A “small” unit of the Philippine Army (PA) is being trained on how to use and maintain the highly potent Typhon mid-range capability (MRC) missile system, a ranking official disclosed Tuesday, March 25.

Developed by American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the Typhon MRC can fire various missiles such as the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), which is designed for striking air or sea targets over 200 kilometers away, and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM), which is capable of hitting long-distance targets.

“Right now, we are training a small unit of our personnel on its operation and maintenance,” said PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala.

When pressed how many Army personnel were being trained on the Typhon, Dema-ala did not give a specific number.

“Right now, we don’t have a number but we intend to maximize our personnel from the Army Artillery Regiment to be familiarized with the MRC since this is a new capability that is not in our inventory,” he said.

The full configuration of the MRC comprises a battery operations center, four launchers, prime movers, and modified trailers.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier said that the military was interested to buy the Typhon MRC to build the country’s deterrence capabilities against hostile forces.

The US Army’s 3^rd Multidomain Task Force headquartered in Hawaii will receive a Typhon battery sometime this year, marking the MRC’s second entry into the Pacific region, according to an article published by the US-based Defense News.

A single battery of the Typhon MRC was first deployed in the Philippines in April 2024 for the Army’s Salaknib Exercise and the AFP’s Balikatan Exercise. It has not been recalled since then, earning the ire of China, which said that the presence of the Typhon in the Indo-Pacific and the Philippines’ planned procurement of a similar capability could trigger an arms race in the region.

For the AFP, the presence of additional Typhon MRC batteries in the Pacific region “is a welcome development.”