Philippines set to host second Typhon missile system, signalling Trump’s defence pledge

The second Typhon unit will allow more Philippine troops to train with the system and enhance the country’s sovereignty, analysts say

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US and Philippine troops prepare the Typhon missile system for a drill in Northern Luzon last year. Photo: 1st Multi-Domain Task Force

Published: 6:30pm, 26 Mar 2025

A potential second deployment of the US-made Typhon missile system in the Philippines has been hailed as a strong signal of Washington’s commitment to the defence of its long-time Southeast Asian ally even as China continues to perceive its presence as a threat to regional security.

Analysts said such a decision would allay concerns among Washington’s Indo-Pacific allies and underscore the Donald Trump administration’s intention to cement its military presence in the region.

“This is a welcome development for the AFP … We can say that the more, the merrier. The more assets we have, the more that we are able to train more personnel,” Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, the spokeswoman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), told reporters on Tuesday.

The US deployed one Typhon unit – also known as the Mid-Range Capability – to Northern Luzon in April last year as part of joint military drills, and it has remained there since. The Philippines has previously urged the US to further bolster its defence capabilities by adding a second Typhon unit.

Capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500km (1,550 miles), the Typhon can reach areas in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

China has strongly opposed its deployment, repeatedly demanding the Philippines remove the system from its shores and accusing Manila of starting a regional arms race by hosting it.