First Deployment of Typhon Weapon System to the Philippines

The U.S. Army has deployed its new ground-based Typhon missile system to the northern Philippines for military exercises, marking its first appearance in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Typhon Weapons System, developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed to support Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 anti-ballistic missiles.

This deployment is part of the U.S. Army's Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTF) initiative aimed at addressing evolving threats posed by Russia and China. The Typhon battery, consisting of four launchers, a command center, and logistical vehicles, is integrated into the Strategic Fires Battalion of the 1st MDTF stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

The Typhon system was transported to the Philippines aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster and deployed to an airfield in Northern Luzon for the Salaknib 2024 military exercises. This marks a significant step in enhancing U.S.-Philippine defense cooperation amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Last summer, then-Philippine Army chief Romeo Brawner announced that the Philippines would acquire U.S.-made HIMARS missile system.