US Tomahawk missile fired from Tacloban hits target in Nueva Ecija — PH military

A United States Army Tomahawk cruise missile launched from Tacloban City struck a designated impact area in Laur, Nueva Ecija early Tuesday morning as part of the Balikatan Exercise, a Philippine military spokesperson confirmed.

Balikatan spokesperson for the Philippines Colonel Dennis Hernandez said the land attack missile was fired at around 12:12 a.m. and reached its target at approximately 1 a.m.

“If you look at the characteristic ng Tomahawk, it is a long-range capable missile that can prosecute sa very long range. Kaya yung execution niya is, we made sure na malayo siya,” he told reporters.

(If you look at the characteristics of the Tomahawk, it is a long-range capable missile that can prosecute at very long range. So the execution of it is, we made sure it is far away.)

“Tacloban is suited for that place because kaya niya mag-travel eastern seaboard towards the target. So kasi ang requirement niya kailangan mahaba, long-range,” he added.

(Tacloban is suited for that place because it can travel the eastern seaboard towards the target. So the requirement is that it needs to be far, long range,” he added.

The Tomahawk missile was fired from a US Typhon mid-range missile platform, according to Hernandez.

The Typhon system is operated by the Strategic Fires Battalion of the US Army and has been deployed in locations of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines.

Hernandez explained that the activity was part of a broader training scenario linked to the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) exercise, which is integrated into the Balikatan drills.

“Balikatan activity siya… however, the firing of the Tomahawk is in support to the JPMRC, a land-based scenario happening in Fort Magsaysay,” he said.

According to Hernandez, the simulated scenario involved an enemy occupying an area, prompting a ground-based response supported by long-range missile capabilities.

The missile, which is precision-guided, successfully hit its intended impact zone in Laur- a distance of approximately 634 kilometers- according to Hernandez.

He said that the live-fire event marked the first Tomahawk missile launch for this year’s Balikatan exercises. —RF, GMA News