In a major military maneuver, the United States has relocated its ‘ferocious’ Typhon missile launchers from Laoag airfield to another undisclosed location on the island of Luzon, Philippines.
According to a Reuters report, citing a senior Philippine government source, satellite imagery has confirmed that the Typhon systems, capable of launching multipurpose missiles over vast distances, were loaded onto C-17 transport aircraft at Laoag International Airport in recent weeks.
The images also revealed that the protective white canopies covering the Typhon equipment had been removed. The Typhon system is part of a broader strategy by the US to boost its anti-ship capabilities in Asia amid rising maritime tensions with Beijing.
Indo-Pacific Command (IndoPacom), which is responsible for US military operations in the region, confirmed that the Typhons have been “relocated within the Philippines.” However, both IndoPacom and the Philippine government have refrained from disclosing the new location of these missile batteries.
Commander Matthew Comer of IndoPacom mentioned that the US government has closely coordinated with Philippine authorities regarding all aspects of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) deployment, including its location.
He clarified that this relocation does not imply that the Typhon systems will remain permanently stationed in the Philippines.
In April 2024, the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force brought the launcher to the Philippines, marking the first time the Typhon Missile System was deployed abroad.
A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transported the system to Northern Luzon’s Laoag International Airport. Following its deployment in the Philippines, it took part in significant exercises such as Salaknib and Balikatan, with the latter seeing simulated use during an anti-ship drill.
However, China strongly reacted to the deployment of the Typhon system, labeling it an “extremely irresponsible choice” that undermines regional peace and stability.
In September 2024, US officials announced that there were no immediate plans to withdraw the Typhon missile systems from the Philippines. This decision prompted condemnation from both China and Russia, who criticized the deployment as intensifying an arms race in Asia.
In December, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson again reiterated, “The introduction by the Philippines of such a mid-range missile system, which is both strategic and offensive, is a provocative and dangerous move in coordination with external forces to create regional tensions, incites geopolitical confrontation, and provokes an arms race.”
In stark contrast to China’s calls for withdrawing the intermediate-range missile system, Philippine defense officials have expressed a keen interest in acquiring this technology for their own defense purposes.
Why Relocation Of The System?
The Typhon system, also known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a vital component of the US Army’s approved force structure for its Multi-Domain Task Forces (MTDF).
The system’s launcher is derived from the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), a design utilized on numerous US and allied warships.
Each Typhon launcher is limited to holding four missiles at a time, and an entire battery comprises four launchers, enabling a maximum salvo of 16 missiles before requiring reloading.
One of the standout features of the Typhon system is its versatility, as it can deploy both Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles.
The Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a range of 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), are capable of striking targets in both China and Russia from launch sites in the Philippines, while the SM-6 missiles enable effective engagement of air and maritime threats at distances exceeding 200 kilometers (approximately 165 miles).
Currently stationed on the island of Luzon, the Typhon system is positioned to target key military installations on the southeastern coast of mainland China and Hainan Island, which is located in the northern South China Sea.
Moreover, the system can reach several Chinese man-made outposts and maritime targets throughout the South China Sea, with Hainan Island being particularly noteworthy due to its critical naval facilities.
In response to the deployment of this advanced missile system, the Chinese government has expressed considerable concern. In a demonstration of its military capability, the PLA conducted a rare intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch over the Pacific from Hainan Island in September.
This action underscores the heightened tensions in the region and reflects China’s serious apprehensions regarding the Typhon system’s operational capabilities and strategic implications.
While all of these capabilities are enough to threaten enemy forces, the various vulnerabilities that may come along with the system in its current form are something the US military wants to eliminate.
Its current design, featuring trailer-mounted launchers, makes it a high-value, low-density asset vulnerable to targeting during large-scale conflicts. Mobility and survivability are, therefore, critical considerations for its operators.
A senior Philippine government source acknowledged, “The redeployment would help determine where and how fast the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position. That mobility is seen as a way to make them more survivable during a conflict.”
Relocating the system, however, remains a daunting task due to the size and complexity of its trailer-based components and Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) prime movers.
The US Army has been actively exploring methods to improve the system’s deployability. Recently, an Indo-Pacific-focused MDTF successfully loaded the Typhon system onto a chartered civilian vessel.
That marked the first validation of the system’s compatibility with maritime transport, paving the way for coastal and amphibious operations. The training exercise aimed to mitigate risks associated with future deployments and establish protocols for relocating the system via sea.
Moreover, given that Typhon is still relatively new, its deployment requires not only trained crews but also the refinement of operational methods to ensure its effectiveness in theater. Relocating the system aids in improving these procedures and enhancing the efficiency of troops operating it.
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