December 24, 2024
MANILA – The Philippine Army said on Monday that it plans to boost the country’s defenses by acquiring in the near future a mid-range capability (MRC) missile system, but not specifically the US-made Typhon, whose deployment to the country early this year had angered China.
The US Army deployed the Typhon in the northern Philippines facing Taiwan last April for a series of large-scale military exercises between Manila and Washington.
READ: WPS: US missile deployment to PH key for combat readiness – US general
It was the first deployment of this US weapons system in the Asia-Pacific region, angering rival superpower China. It has been used by Philippine forces to train for its operation since then.
Beijing has called for the withdrawal of the missiles from the Philippines, whose stay has been extended since the exercises, saying that the deployment had “intensified geopolitical confrontation and escalated tensions in the region.”
Protecting EEZ
Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said plans were underway to acquire the MRC to protect the country’s sovereignty and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“It is planned to be acquired because we see its feasibility and its functionality in our comprehensive archipelagic defense concept (CADC) implementation,” he said in a year-end press conference at the Army headquarters in Taguig City.
“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 that the total number to be acquired would depend on “economics.”
The CADC is a defense strategy that requires the Philippine government to project its military capabilities throughout the Philippines’ 370-kilometer EEZ and other areas under its jurisdiction.
“We need to contribute to this (concept) by having this platform to be able to assist the primary major services (Philippine Navy and Air Force) that would focus on maritime and air domain,” Galido said. “You have to take note of the fact that at 200 nautical miles (370 km) there is no land there and the army cannot go there.”
The Philippine Army has also previously expressed intent to buy advanced missile systems such as US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in November revealed a plan to acquire intermediate-missile launchers but not limited to Typhon.
“There must be consent to sell. However, we are planning to have such kinds of capabilities. I’m not saying the Typhon. I’m saying such kinds of capabilities,” he said at the time.
Typhon is a ground-based missile launcher that could launch Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. It consists of a battery operations center, four launchers, prime movers, and modified trailers.
Staying in the country
Tomahawks are believed to have a range of more than 1,500 km, while the SM-6 has an operational range of more than 240 km.
Typhon’s deployment to the Philippines came in the wake of China’s escalating aggression in the West Philippine Sea, waters within the country’s EEZ.
Its current deployment would put it within range of Taiwan, Chinese military outposts in South China Sea and even parts of the Chinese mainland.
Beijing’s claim over nearly the entire South China Sea overlaps with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. It has been invalidated by a 2016 arbitral ruling, which China continues to ignore.
Security officials said the Typhon would remain in the Philippines until the government changed its mind.
In September, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed an “intention” to keep the Typhon for joint military exercises.
“If I were given a choice, I want them to stay here forever,” Brawner said.
Not in 2025 budget
It usually takes at least two years for the Philippine military to acquire a new weapons system from the planning stage, Galido said, adding the MRC missiles were not yet budgeted for 2025.
The Philippines has acquired the BrahMos medium-range supersonic cruise missiles, which could be launched from submarines, ships, planes, or land platforms.
The first batch of BrahMos missiles arrived in the country in April, making the Philippines the first foreign buyer of the world’s fastest supersonic antiship missile system made by India.
Three batteries of the P18.9-billion shore-based antiship missiles were acquired for the Philippine Marines. The Army had earlier expressed its desire to acquire the same missile system.
With a range of 290 to 400 km, BrahMos could travel at Mach 2.8, or about three times faster than the speed of sound.
Brawner had proposed the creation of a permanent Army unit that would be in charge of the use and maintenance of the supersonic cruise missile system.
The first modern surface-to-air missile defense system of the AFP is the Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) Batteries called Spyder Philippines Air Defense System (SPADS) that arrived in the country in November 2022.
This is a mobile air and missile defense system designed to protect critical installations, land-based fixed assets, mobile platforms, and friendly forces from aerial threats such as combat aircraft, attack helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, incoming missiles, guided munition, and rockets. In certain cases, it may also be used to neutralize surveillance threats. —with reports from Agence France-Presse and Inquirer Research