How Will US Ground-Based Typhon Missiles Protect the Philippines
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By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
For the first time, the U.S. Army has deployed its latest ground-based missile system, the Typhon, to the Indo-Pacific region, specifically for an exercise in the Philippines. This system, capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-purpose missiles, is a clear message to China and the region at large. It’s a preview of the Army’s plans to establish a permanent presence of these systems near China.
The U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) recently confirmed deploying a part of the Typhon system, also known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), to the Philippines for Exercise Salaknib 24. The system, which arrived in the Western Pacific nation, is assigned to Battery C, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, a part of the Long-Range Fires Battalion under the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. The Army had previously indicated that it would deploy a Typhon system overseas this year, but the specific destination and timeline were not disclosed.
The deployment of the Typhon system in the Philippines is part of the bilateral U.S.-Philippine ground forces exercise Salaknib 2024. The Typhon Missile System, also known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a ground-based launcher designed by Lockheed Martin. It takes the naval Mk.41 vertical launch system and modifies it for land-based operations. The system can support Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6, enhancing the Army’s ground combat and anti-ship capabilities at distances of up to 1,000 miles.
The extent of Battery C’s participation in Exercise Salaknib 24 remains uncertain, as does the possibility of a live-fire demonstration of the unit’s capabilities. The Army has so far only released images of a single trailer-based containerized launcher, towed by a tractor variant of the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), being loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft from the 62nd Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and subsequently unloaded at its destination. The Army’s press release mentions only one C-17A flight. This marks the first time that elements of the Typhon system have been airlifted, a journey of over 8,000 miles that took the aircraft more than 15 hours, according to the Army.
A full Typhon battery includes four launchers, a trailer-based mobile command post, and other ancillary vehicles and equipment, as per information previously released by the Army. Transporting a single Typhon battery would require multiple C-17A sorties.
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