Storm Shadow vs Taurus vs JASSM, Three Stealth Cruise Missiles Compared
Storm Shadow, Taurus KEPD 350 and JASSM-ER are the West’s three best-known air-launched stealth cruise missiles, and the gap between them is large, from roughly 250 km of range for Storm Shadow to around 1,000 km for the American missile. All three carry heavy penetrating warheads aimed at bunkers, command posts and ships in port, but they differ sharply in reach, stealth and combat experience.
Storm Shadow vs Taurus vs JASSM specs
| Item | Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG | Taurus KEPD 350 | AGM-158B JASSM-ER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | MBDA (UK, France) | Taurus Systems (MBDA Deutschland, Saab) | Lockheed Martin (USA) |
| Entered service | Early 2000s | Mid-2000s | JASSM late 2000s; ER in the 2010s |
| Length | About 5.1 m | About 5.1 m | About 4.3 m |
| Weight | About 1,300 kg | About 1,400 kg | About 1,000 kg |
| Warhead | 450 kg BROACH tandem penetrator | 480 kg MEPHISTO penetrator | 450 kg (1,000 lb) penetrating blast-fragmentation |
| Range | Over 250 km, officially | Over 500 km, reported | About 1,000 km, reported |
| Speed | High subsonic | About Mach 0.95 | High subsonic |
| Guidance | INS, GPS, terrain reference, imaging infrared | INS, GPS, terrain and image-based navigation | INS, GPS, imaging infrared with target recognition |
| Stealth | Reduced signature | Low-observable shaping | Low-observable shaping, strongest of the three |
| Unit cost | Roughly $1 million or more, reported | Roughly $1 million or more, reported | Roughly $1.5 million, reported |
At a glance, Storm Shadow and Taurus are close cousins in size and warhead. JASSM-ER is lighter and longer-legged, a reflection of the American requirement to penetrate defended airspace from far away. Our standalone guides cover the Storm Shadow SCALP, the Taurus KEPD 350 and the AGM-158 JASSM in more detail.
Which cruise missile has the longest range
JASSM-ER wins clearly, with a reported reach near 1,000 km, about four times Storm Shadow’s official minimum. Taurus sits in the middle with more than 500 km. Range matters because a longer missile lets the launch aircraft stay farther from air defenses, and an aircraft such as the F-15E, F-16 or B-1 can shoot without entering the threat envelope.
The catch is export rules. The Storm Shadow supplied to Ukraine was reportedly limited to a range near the 250 to 300 km tier that stays within international missile-control norms for exports, a point often mentioned by officials. Actual effective range depends on flight profile, altitude and launch speed, so published numbers should be read as guides rather than guarantees.
Which has the best bunker-busting warhead
Storm Shadow and Taurus are built for hardened targets. Storm Shadow’s BROACH warhead uses a small precursor charge to clear a path, then a main charge that detonates inside the structure. Taurus’ MEPHISTO warhead is also a two-stage penetrator, and its fuze is notable for counting floors, detecting voids and choosing the moment to explode inside a bunker. JASSM-ER carries a 1,000-pound-class penetrator that is very capable, but a smaller design aimed at flexibility rather than deep bunkers.
For the deepest targets, Taurus is often considered the most sophisticated, although any claim about real-world penetration depth depends on soil, concrete and angle of attack, data that manufacturers rarely publish. Live results exist only for Storm Shadow, which Ukraine has fired against fixed Russian facilities.
Combat record, Storm Shadow, Taurus and JASSM
| Missile | Known use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Shadow | Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2011, Syria, then Ukraine from 2023 | Ukrainian strikes on headquarters and depots are operator-reported |
| Taurus KEPD 350 | No confirmed combat use by Germany | Germany has been cautious about supplying it to Kyiv |
| JASSM | First combat use in 2018 against Syrian targets | Also used in later US operations; details are limited |
Storm Shadow is the only one with a rich, recent record. Ukraine’s use against Black Sea Fleet facilities in Crimea was operator-reported, and it was credited with pushing Russian headquarters back from the front, although outcomes are hard to verify. Russia has claimed to have shot some down, again without independent confirmation. JASSM has more limited documented use, while Taurus remains mostly a proven-on-paper weapon.
Which cruise missile is best for each mission
| Mission | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Deep strike, long range | JASSM-ER | Reach of about 1,000 km and the stealthiest profile |
| Hardened bunker targets | Taurus | Largest warhead and void-sensing fuze |
| Proven battlefield use | Storm Shadow | Extensive operational record |
| Maritime strike at range | JASSM-ER with LRASM variant | Long range and a dedicated anti-ship version |
| Integration with European jets | Storm Shadow or Taurus | Storm Shadow on Typhoon, Rafale and Tornado; Taurus on Tornado, Typhoon and Spain’s F/A-18 |
The answer depends on who is asking. A European air force flying Rafale or Typhoon will find Storm Shadow the natural fit. A NATO member with F-16s or F-35s will look to JASSM, and Germany and Spain built Taurus around their own fleets. For context on American alternatives, see our guide to the Tomahawk.
Storm Shadow, Taurus and JASSM frequently asked questions
Which is better, Storm Shadow or Taurus?
Taurus has longer range and a more sophisticated warhead fuze, while Storm Shadow has a far longer combat record.
How far can JASSM-ER fly?
Reported range is about 1,000 km, compared with 250 km or more for Storm Shadow.
Has Germany sent Taurus to Ukraine?
Germany has been reluctant, fearing escalation, and has not confirmed deliveries.
Are these missiles stealthy?
All three have low-observable shaping, but JASSM is designed as the stealthiest.
Who makes Storm Shadow?
MBDA, the European missile group with operations in the UK and France.
- MBDA, Taurus Systems and Lockheed Martin product literature
- SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
- Wikipedia – Storm Shadow, Taurus KEPD 350 and AGM-158 JASSM (accessed October 2026)
- Defence & Tech reporting
