ADEX 2025: Taurus unveils new missile for internal weapons bays of stealth aircraft

Taurus has unveiled the new KASOM missile at ADEX 2025. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal)

Taurus Systems has unveiled a new air-launched cruise missile that is capable of being carried internally in a future variant of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 ‘Boromae' fighter aircraft, as well as smaller KAI FA-50 light combat aircraft.

Known as the KASOM (Korean Advanced Stand Off Missile), the new platform is smaller than Taurus' KEPD 350, according to Taurus. A mock-up of the new missile was shown for the first time at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition (ADEX) 2025, which is being held from 17 to 24 October.

A company source described the KASOM programme as “an extension” of the previous KEPD 350K-2 – an all-weather missile project – which was being pitched to South Korea and other countries. Taurus was developing the KEPD 350K-2 to arm light and short-range fighters such as the FA-50.

KASOM will have a length of 4 m and a width of 950 mm, according to Taurus. This reduction in size also reduces the weight of the missile to 2,000 lb (970 kg), according to a company brochure. The KEPD 350 has a weight of 3,086 lb (1,400 kg).

KASOM retains the same top speed (Mach 0.6–0.95) of the KEPD 350, the brochure added.

KAI has not officially released specifications for the internal weapons bay of the future KF-21EX (Extended) fifth-generation variant. However, Janes understands that the size will be comparable to the dimensions of the weapons bay in the Lockheed Martin F-35A.