Yesterday, the Chief of the Philippine Army stated that the country is analyzing the incorporation of the Typhon missile launch system with the aim of strengthening the capabilities to defend the exclusive economic zone. According to Lieutenant General Roy Galido, the medium-range U.S.-made system is being studied due to its viability and functionality.
Framed within the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), the Typhon is part of a list that the Philippines considered to select the next defense system that fits the requirements of the Army. In this regard, Galido stated that “The CADC demands that we be able to protect the country’s interest, and the country’s interest is our EEZ, those 200 nautical miles. Therefore, it is essential that the Army is able to project its strength to that point, in coordination, of course, with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force.”
This news was already reported in mid-November in a Financial Times report, which stated that Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro already had his sights set on acquiring Typhon systems for coastal defense and medium-range strike capabilities. Furthermore, the decision considers the familiarity that Filipino troops were able to gain during an exercise in April with the United States Army.
If ultimately finalized, the country would acquire a system capable of reaching installations of the Asian Giant, considering that these launchers can deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers. In this way, the Philippines would have an important complement to the Indian-made BrahMos missiles, especially designed to counter naval threats from coastal batteries.
Finally, it is also worth noting that the U.S. Army is working on a reduced-size variant of the Typhon system, precisely thanks to lessons learned during its deployment in the Philippines. While it is unknown what specific modifications they aim to implement beyond initial assumptions about the number of missiles that could be launched from a battery and changes to its towing platform (from an HEMTT 8×8 truck to a smaller one), this could represent an even greater incentive for the potential purchase, as it would reduce deployment costs and the logistical challenges associated with it.
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