PH Army: No US Typhon missile launchers in upcoming live-fire exercise

The Typhon missile launchers of the United States, which were reportedly deployed in Luzon, will not be used for live-fire exercises in the upcoming military drills, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday.

“No live fire exercises,” Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said in a press briefing when asked if the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system will be used in the exercises.

Dema-ala pointed out that the Army training using the US Typhon will focus on the payload delivery system.

“The second iteration of the subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with the MRC and between the [United States Army Pacific] and the Army Artillery Regiment is focused on the payload delivery system and the continuation of what we have learned in the first iteration of the SMEE,” he added.

A one-week SMEE training will be conducted with the US Typhon in the second or third week of February, according to Dema-ala.

The Philippine Army is set to conduct a realistic simulation of wartime operations in this year’s Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) Katihan from March 3 to 12.

The exercise will also serve as preparation for other major training events, including Salaknib, Balikatan, and the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercises conducted with the United States.

Typhon missile system

Reuters earlier reported that a senior Philippine government source revealed that the US military had relocated its MRC missile system from Laoag Airfield to another site in Luzon.

The Typhon missile system includes Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of hitting targets in both China and Russia, while its SM-6 missiles can engage air or sea targets over 200 kilometers away, according to the report.

The official added that the redeployment was aimed at testing how quickly and efficiently the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position.

China recently reiterated its call for the Philippines to withdraw the Typhon missile system.

“We once again urge the Philippines to heed the concerns of regional countries and their peoples, correct this wrongdoing, quickly remove the Typhon missile system as publicly pledged, and avoid further going down the wrong path,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has rejected China's demand.

“There is no single entity who can dictate how we would do our deployments in terms of our defenses,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla earlier said.

“It's an inherent right of every state to heighten and strengthen their defenses accordingly. How we would go about it is for us to freely do so. Walang puwedeng magdikta sa atin (no one can dictate) how we would do it,” she added.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News