PH: No live fire drills for US-made Typhon midrange capability missile

The armies of US and the Philippines conduct subject matter expert exchange about Typhon midrange capability missile last June 27 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. PHOTO FROM THE US ARMY PACIFIC

MANILA, Philippines — The United States Typhon midrange missile launcher deployed to the Philippines since April will not be used for live fire drills, according to the Philippine Army.

Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the focus for now is familiarization of the midrange capability (MRC) missile system.

“Per program of instruction, no need to conduct live fire. It’s not relevant to the training being conducted because it’s just more on familiarization and orientation of the system,” Dema-ala told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday.

Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr., deputy chief of the Philippine Army Chief Public Affairs, said on Tuesday that the MRC would stay in the country until further notice.

READ: US missile system not leaving PH yet

When asked about the possibility of live fire drills for the MRC, Dema-ala said: “As per ongoing planning, no live fires.”

“But let me also emphasize our learnings on this platform is to the advantage of the Philippine Army, and when it comes to defense capability, it aligns with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept which in accordance to the constitutional responsibility of the Army of protecting its people and our sovereignty,” he added.

Security expert Chester Cabalza noted that “there is a right time for the live fire drills.”

“Usually it coincides during the annual Balikatan military exercise,” Cabalza, president and founder of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday.

“This is a legitimate conduct of live fire drills for the MRC typhoon system since there is a potent scenario participated by like-minded nations,” he added.

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would resume the production of intermediate- and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles, citing the US deployment of the MRC missile system to the Philippines.

Cabalza said such criticisms of the MRC system are expected.

“The US’s affirmative support to the defense upgrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expected courtesy of our treaty alliance,” he added.

The MRC, a unit of the ground-based missile system capable of firing Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles, arrived in the country on April 11 and was last spotted in Ilocos Norte.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. previously said the country wants to procure an MRC missile system.

READ: Brawner: AFP wants US-made Typhon midrange capability missile

Currently, the Philippines has medium-range supersonic cruise missiles called BrahMos, which could be launched from submarines, ships, planes, or land platforms. It arrived in the country in April.

With a range of 290 to 400 kilometers, BrahMos could travel at Mach 2.8, or about three times faster than the speed of sound.

Previously, Brawner proposed the creation of a permanent unit within the Philippine Army that would be in charge of the supersonic cruise missile system, its maintenance, and usage.