The U.S. military’s Typhon missile launchers, capable of firing multi-purpose missiles over thousands of kilometres, will stay in the Philippines for now, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s national security adviser said on Friday.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano told reporters the launchers will stay on Philippine shores “for now”, a day after Reuters reported that the launchers were moved to a new location within the island of Luzon from the northern Laoag airfield.
Longstanding Defence Ties
The Philippine military separately said on Friday the deployment of the launchers with mid-range capability was in line with Washington’s longstanding defence ties with the country.
“The primary objective of this deployment is to strengthen Philippine military readiness, improve our familiarisation and interoperability with advanced weapon systems, and support regional security,” armed forces spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement.
The weapon’s presence on Philippine territory drew sharp rebukes from China when it was first deployed in April 2024 during military exercises. Beijing accused the Philippines on Thursday of creating tension and confrontation in the region, urging it to “correct its wrong practices”.
Treaty allies the United States and the Philippines “coordinate closely on all aspects of the MRC deployment, including its positioning”, Padilla said.
Typhon Launchers
The Typhon launchers can fire multi-purpose missiles up to thousands of kilometres such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia from the Philippines. The SM-6 missiles it carries can strike air or sea targets more than 200 km (165 miles) away.
“These arrangements reflect shared operational considerations and mutual consultations between our two nations,” Padilla said.
Typhon Launchers Relocated
The U.S. military recently relocated its Typhon missile launchers from the Philippines‘ Laoag Airfield to a new site on Luzon Island, according to a senior Philippine government official.
Sources said that 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.
‘Relocated Within The Philippines’
Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the region, told Reuters that the Typhons have been “relocated within the Philippines”.
Both INDOPACOM and the Philippine government declined to give the specific location to which the batteries were moved.
(With inputs from Reuters)
