US may deploy a second MRC to the Philippines
Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discussed the need for an ironclad commitment between both countries during Secretary Hegseth’s visit in Manila last March 27–28, 2025. Photo from the Department of National Defense.
By: Manuel Mogato | Published: April 2, 2025
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Manila – Washington is seriously considering deploying its second Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile launcher in the Philippines by the second of the year, further boosting the country’s external defense.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro dropped hints about another Typhon missile launcher deployment when asked during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines.
He did not deny the US plan but was more cryptic when he “neither confirm nor deny reporters against China.
Military spokeswoman Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the possible deployment of a second US Typhon missile system to the Philippines would give more opportunity to troops to be familiarized with the weapon system.
“This is a welcome development for the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Padilla told journalists. “We can say that the more, the merrier. The more assets we have, the more that we can train more personnel on our part.”
The first Typhon missile system arrived in the country in April last year and was subsequently featured in military exercises between Filipino and US forces in Luzon.
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Earlier reports had it that the US military is planning to deploy another Typhon missile system to the Philippines, a move that is expected to further anger China.
China has repeatedly demanded the pullout of the Typhon missile system.
For his part, Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala said such a move will hasten the training of Army personnel on how to operate such a platform.
“This will expedite the training of our personnel,” he said. “As of now, we’ve only trained a small number of personnel. So we welcome this, if there will be additional.”
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad also welcomed “all opportunities to be able to train further with modern weapon systems.”
Trinidad stressed that the defense posture of the Philippines is “is not designed against any other country. It is an action of a sovereign state.”
“In the region, we have been abiding by the rules-based international order. We have been supportive of the rules-based international order. We have been abiding by international law. Other countries, especially the Chinese Communist Party, have not been abiding by international law,” said Trinidad.
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