Army chief: MRC to ‘project force’ up to 200-mile EEZ

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system, also known as the mid-range capability (MRC) system, to protect its maritime interests, some of which are being contested by China.

“It is planned to be acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our concept of archipelagic defense implementation,” Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said in a news conference.

“I’m happy to report to our fellow countrymen that your Army is developing this capability for the interest of protecting our sovereignty,” he said, adding the total number to be acquired would depend on “economics.”

The US Army earlier deployed the mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises with its longtime ally, and decided to leave it at the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte.

Laoag airport is not among the nine sites covered by the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. It is, however, near two EDCA sites in Cagayan province – the Camilo Osias navy base in Sta Ana and Lal-lo airport.

The missile system can fire the Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.

Developed by US firm Lockheed Martin for the US Army, the Typhon has a range of 300 miles (480 kilometers), though a longer-range version is in development.

Galido said the missile system would enable the army to “project force” outwards up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers), which is the limit of the country’s maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“You have to take note of the fact that at 200 nautical miles, there is no land there and the army cannot go there,” he said.

“We need to contribute to this (defense of Philippine interests) by having this platform to be able to assist the primary major service that would focus on maritime and air domain,” Galido added.

Under that scenario, the Typhon platform “will protect our floating assets,” he said, a reference to ships of the Philippine navy, coast guard and other vessels.

Galido said Philippine Army personnel have been training on the missile system since it was left by the US after the Balikatan exercises in April.

“We are learning a lot,” he said.

Galido’s announcement of the plan to acquire the Typhon came days after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the National Security Strategy (NSS) 2024.

The NSS, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, focuses on four key areas: human capital development, institution-building, efficient use of instruments of national power such as diplomacy and defense, and sustainable growth through economic resilience and legislative support.

For its part, Beijing swiftly condemned the AFP’s decision to acquire the missile system as a “provocative and dangerous move” and warned it risked triggering an “arms race.”

“It is an extremely irresponsible choice for the history of its own people and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as for regional security,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Monday.

“The region needs peace and prosperity, not missiles and confrontation,” she added.

The presence of the US missile launcher in the northern Philippine angered Beijing, whose navy and coast guard forces engaged in escalating confrontations in recent months with Manila, in the West Philippine Sea.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Galido dismissed the criticism against the Typhon system in the Philippines.

“We should not be bothered by others’ seeming insecurities because we don’t have any plans to go outside of our country’s interests,” he said.

As a rule, however, it takes at least two or more years for the Philippine military to acquire a new weapons system from the planning stage, Galido said, adding it was not yet budgeted for 2025.

It took five years for Manila to take delivery of the BrahMos cruise missile last year, he added. With AFP

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Galido: Army to gain first-hand knowledge on long range missile systems.”