The Philippines has expressed interest in acquiring the U.S.-made Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile launcher, also known as “Typhon.” The system, capable of firing long-range Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles, was introduced to the Philippines in April for joint military exercises. Now, Manila seeks to make the deployment more permanent, a decision likely to inflame tensions with China, which views the move as a direct threat to regional stability.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed his intent to procure the MRC missile launcher in a recent interview with the Financial Times, emphasizing the Philippines’ resolve to secure its national territory. “We indeed plan to have this capability,” Teodoro stated. “We will not compromise our right to acquire it within our territory.” If approved by Washington, the acquisition would represent a significant enhancement of the Philippine military’s long-range defense capabilities, allowing it to counter potential threats from foreign powers.
The MRC system’s presence in the Philippines is notable for its timing and its proximity to China. The deployment marks the first instance of a U.S. mid-range missile system positioned in Southeast Asia since the dissolution of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. Under this agreement, the United States and Russia had refrained from deploying land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers—a restriction that had previously limited the strategic options of both countries in the Asia-Pacific.
After being introduced during the “Salaknib 2024” exercises, the Typhon system remained in the northern Philippines for additional training exercises with the Philippine military. Though not fired during these exercises, the system has served as a key training tool, particularly in enhancing mobility and strategic deployment skills among Philippine troops. According to Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson for the Philippine Armed Forces, local military personnel have continued extensive training on the Typhon system’s operations as Manila evaluates its acquisition feasibility.
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated there is “no set timeline” for the MRC system’s presence, emphasizing its role in training and defense readiness. “For now, we don’t plan to withdraw it. We need the Typhon missile system for training and enhancing our troops’ capabilities,” Año said.
The announcement of the Philippines’ potential acquisition of the MRC system has drawn a swift and forceful response from Beijing, which has labeled the deployment a “provocative” maneuver that disrupts the region’s stability. Chinese officials are particularly wary of the MRC’s capacity to launch Tomahawk missiles, which can target military installations deep within Chinese territory from as far away as northern Luzon. For China, the presence of such a missile system in the Philippines raises the stakes of any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
In a formal statement, China demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Typhon system from Philippine soil, highlighting its security concerns over the system’s positioning so close to Chinese interests in the South China Sea and its man-made military bases. Experts suggest that Beijing’s sharp reaction reflects broader anxieties about U.S.-Philippine military ties and the rapid militarization of key areas in Southeast Asia.
Tensions have also been fueled by the Philippines’ concurrent deployment of the supersonic anti-ship BrahMos missiles, acquired from India and stationed at a coastal base on Luzon’s western coast. Together, the BrahMos and Typhon systems enhance the Philippines’ multi-layered defense capabilities, marking a strategic pivot from a focus on internal security to sovereignty protection against foreign threats. For President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., bolstering the country’s defenses aligns with his administration’s commitment to sovereignty and regional security—a stance he has consistently underscored amid increasing maritime challenges in the South China Sea.
With a firing range extending up to 2,000 kilometers, the Typhon missile system gives the Philippines the potential to reach Chinese bases and facilities across the South China Sea. The MRC system, which includes four launchers, a command center, and multiple logistics vehicles, represents a high-tech enhancement of Manila’s defense capabilities. It is operated by the U.S. Strategic Fires Battalion, which also includes units armed with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and the Dark Eagle Hypersonic missiles, further amplifying the U.S. military’s strategic reach in Asia.
The Typhon system’s SM-6 missiles offer additional versatility with anti-air and anti-ship capabilities, making them suitable for responding to a variety of aerial and maritime threats. The weapon system’s adaptability allows for coordinated, integrated responses to potential security challenges, particularly in contested waters near the Spratly Islands, a region where China has pursued an assertive expansionist policy.
Such a long-range, versatile system is of immense strategic value to the Philippines as it bolsters national defense while acting as a deterrent to aggressive posturing by external powers. However, experts warn that the system’s deployment will undoubtedly escalate tensions with China, as Beijing perceives the MRC’s presence as a direct counter to its influence and operations within the “Nine-Dash Line” area—a contested region of the South China Sea over which China claims historic rights.
The Philippine government’s plan to acquire the Typhon missile system reflects a larger transformation in its defense strategy. Historically, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has focused on counterinsurgency efforts against domestic insurgent groups. However, President Marcos’ administration is reorienting military priorities to address the complex demands of national defense and territorial sovereignty amid growing external pressures.
The shift is also in line with broader strategic goals that align Manila’s interests with those of its allies, particularly the United States. The Philippine-U.S. Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the recent establishment of new military bases in the Philippines underscore a strengthened alliance. These agreements not only provide the Philippines with access to advanced U.S. military hardware but also enable closer operational coordination for defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.
By acquiring the Typhon system, the Philippines will join a growing list of Indo-Pacific nations modernizing their military capabilities in response to increased geopolitical friction in the region. This acquisition, along with the BrahMos missile deployment, is seen as part of a deterrent strategy that could make any potential aggression toward Philippine waters or airspace more costly for adversaries.
The United States has indicated strong support for the Philippines’ defense ambitions, reflecting Washington’s intent to reinforce its Indo-Pacific alliances in the face of rising regional instability. The MRC’s deployment follows a pattern of increasing U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific, where Washington has stationed assets like HIMARS and Patriot missile systems in Guam and Japan.
Under its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy, the United States aims to strengthen regional partnerships to counterbalance China’s growing influence. For the U.S., equipping the Philippines with a powerful missile system like Typhon aligns with its broader objectives of maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and protecting its allies against coercive behavior by regional powers.
However, analysts caution that this defense bolstering could prompt an arms race in Southeast Asia, with neighboring countries seeking similar capabilities to balance against each other’s strengths. Such developments could lead to a fragile balance of power in the region, heightening the risks of accidental escalations or confrontations.
For the Philippines, the decision to acquire the Typhon system and other advanced military assets will necessitate close collaboration with the United States. As both nations engage in strategic dialogues, further joint training exercises, and defense exchanges, their cooperation underscores a commitment to regional security and defense interoperability.
Looking forward, Philippine defense analysts see the Typhon acquisition as a catalyst for further modernization, particularly in terms of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The integration of advanced missile systems, anti-ship defenses, and ISR assets would enable the Philippines to monitor its airspace and maritime borders with greater precision, ensuring swift responses to any violations of its sovereign territory.
The Philippines’ intent to acquire the Typhon MRC system signifies a pivotal shift in its defense policy, prioritizing its sovereign defense capabilities and reaffirming its strategic alliance with the United States. As China closely monitors these developments, the unfolding security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region are set to redefine regional alliances and shape the contours of future military cooperation in Southeast Asia.
