Philippines aims to acquire Typhon missile launcher as regional arms race intensifies

General Romeo Brawner Jnr, the country’s military chief, said on Thursday that the Philippines wanted to procure the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), or Typhon, missile system as part of Manila’s strategy to focus more on external defence.

“Part of that advancement is trying to get in the latest weapons systems that are out there, enough for us to develop the intended effect. So one of the modern weapons are, of course, the missile systems,” Brawner said at a press conference following a meeting of senior Philippine defence officials.

The Typhon is a land-based, ground-launched system capable of firing the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile with ranges of more than 240km (150 miles) and 2,500km (1,550 miles), respectively, distances that put the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait within its radius.

“With our Brahmos missile batteries, these systems can be part of our territorial defence network. Along with the planned acquisition of multi-role fighter jets and submarines, the Typhon can be a game changer and a significant boost to the country’s deterrence posture,” said Ona, a former navy officer.

China has protested the deployment of the Typhon in the Philippines, accusing Manila and Washington of aggravating regional tensions.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun described the system as “a real threat to regional security” during his meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in May.

Chris Gardiner, CEO of the Institute for Regional Security in Canberra, said Manila’s proposed acquisition of the Typhon might be complicated by strict US controls on advanced military technologies. Even for a weapon acquisition by an ally, Washington would be wary of any