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Pixabay file photo
The United States has redeployed its Typhon missile launchers from Laoag Airfield in Ilocos Norte to another undisclosed site on Luzon, according to a senior Philippine government source.
The Typhon system, formally known as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 missiles. Tomahawks have a range of thousands of kilometers, while SM-6 missiles can strike air or sea targets beyond 200 kilometers.
The Philippine source said the relocation was intended to test how quickly and efficiently the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position, a capability seen as critical to survivability in the event of a conflict.
Satellite imagery reviewed by analysts showed equipment being loaded onto C-17 transport aircraft at Laoag International Airport in recent weeks. Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies said images indicated the white protective canopies covering the Typhon systems had been removed prior to transport.
The Typhon deployment forms part of Washington’s broader effort to strengthen anti-ship and strike capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the region, confirmed that the Typhon systems had been “relocated within the Philippines” but declined to disclose their new location. The Philippine government also withheld specifics.
Commander Matthew Comer of INDOPACOM said the move was coordinated closely with Philippine authorities.
“The U.S. government has coordinated closely with the Philippine government on every aspect of the MRC deployment, including the location,” Comer said.
He clarified that the relocation does not necessarily signal a permanent basing arrangement.
China criticized the deployment when it was first introduced during a joint training exercise in April 2024. When Washington later indicated it had no immediate plans to withdraw the system, both China and Russia condemned the move, describing it as contributing to regional militarization.
China’s foreign ministry renewed its criticism, accusing the Philippines of heightening tensions.
“(The deployment) is also an extremely irresponsible choice for the people of the country and various Southeast Asian countries, and for regional security,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press briefing.
The Typhon system relies on established missile designs and existing stockpiles, potentially allowing the U.S. and its allies to expand missile coverage more rapidly in the region.
While U.S. officials have not specified how many systems may ultimately be deployed in the Indo-Pacific, government procurement documents indicate that more than 800 SM-6 missiles are scheduled for purchase over the next five years. Several thousand Tomahawk missiles are already in U.S. inventories.
Both missile types are manufactured by Raytheon.