Latest news with #Mid-RangeCapability
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
US Army soldiers reworked a new missile system in the field during a deployment that deeply frustrated China
Troops deployed to the Pacific tinkered with and reworked a missile system in the field, showing the value of soldier-driven design input during a deployment that irritated China, a recent report noted. Soldiers were in the Philippines and working with the US Army's new Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system. The Government Accountability Office, a watchdog agency, reported last month on the Army's modernization efforts for its artillery, rocket, and missile systems. Citing conversations with the program's officials, the GAO said that there were "multiple design changes" made "during development based on user input provided during new equipment training and other exercises." The improvements made included reducing the reload time and stress on the system's components, and they were made by soldiers on the ground during those exercises. "For example, because of the orientation of the launcher, soldiers suggested moving certain access points and panel connections on the trailer to make it easier to reload, operate, and maintain," the office said. User input on the system was collected during and after its deployment to the Philippines last year as part of a joint US-Philippine exercise. In a statement at the time, US Army Pacific called it a "landmark deployment" marking "a significant milestone for the new capability while enhancing interoperability, readiness, and defense capabilities in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines." It marked the system's first overseas deployment. The MRC is one of the Army's newest missile systems. It's a versatile ground-based missile system capable of firing both the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile and designed to fill a key gap in the US arsenal in terms of range and flexibility. While it wasn't fired during the trainings, its presence angered China, which demanded it be removed. In September 2024, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, said that China had made its opposition to the deployment clear more than once. "The deployment is a move to turn back the wheel of history," he said, adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles. China has also expressed its frustrations to the Philippines. In August last year, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had expressed concerns the weapon could destabilize the security and relations of the region, and that when they discussed it, China "made it very dramatic." Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests ot the detriment of its own, and China has kept up its complaints amid reports of a coming second MRC deployment to the Philippines, which has expressed great interest in the system's capabilities. The MRC's development came after the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. That withdrawal, which the first Trump administration said was driven by Moscow's violation of the treaty with its SSC-8/9M729, has opened new doors for the US arsenal. In the GAO report, the office noted that the effort underway for the MRC has "reflected several attributes of an iterative product development approach as it established a business case with flexible requirements focused on a minimum viable product," including adapting new capabilities and requesting user feedback on the system. Iterative, or staged, development with key soldier feedback has been of growing interest for US Army's transformation and innovation projects. The Army has called these soldier touchpoints, but there are many names for this process within the military. US special operations forces have also been really involved in this approach. The value of this kind of work in the field has also been seen in the war in Ukraine, where Ukrainian soldiers are often in close contact with and providing feedback to weapons makers, fueling rapid growth in experimental and emerging combat technologies. The Army's first iteration of the Mid-Range Capability experienced that during the Philippines deployment. Military leaders have said that companies should be testing their tech on the front lines. Short of that, they'd ideally be getting their systems in the hands of deployed troops in training.
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Ally Doubles Down on Missiles Angering China
The Philippines' defense chief has again pushed back against China's claim that hosting U.S. missiles in the country amounts to a provocation. "It's none of China's business; it's for Philippine defense," Gilberto Teodoro said in a recent interview with 60 Minutes when asked to respond to Beijing's objections. China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing historical rights-a position that puts it at odds with competing claims by the Philippines and several other neighbors. In recent years, Manila has stepped up its response to China's growing presence within the Philippine maritime zone. Fierce clashes between Chinese and Philippine forces near disputed reefs have, on several occasions, left Philippine sailors injured. These incidents have put Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington in the spotlight, raising questions of whether U.S. forces could be drawn into a conflict with nuclear-armed China. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a request for comment outside of office hours. On the latest episode of 60 Minutes, which aired Sunday, Teodoro compared China to "the proverbial schoolyard bully." "It just muscles you over," he said. The conversation turned to the Mid-Range Capability, or "Typhon" missile launcher, which the U.S. Army deployed to the Philippines ahead of joint military drills in April. The system can be equipped with Tomahawk missiles-whose maximum range of 1,200 miles puts much of China's east coast within reach-as well as shorter-range Standard Missile 6s. Army officials have said the SM-6 is the only U.S. missile currently capable of intercepting a hypersonic missile, such as those possessed by China and Russia, in late flight. China has repeatedly called for the Typhon to be removed from the Philippines. Asked by interviewer Cecelia Vega whether the missiles are there to stay, Teodoro said he could neither confirm nor deny such a plan. "What happens within our territory is for our defense," he said. "We follow international law. What's the fuss?" Teodoro said he didn't know how the feud would end, but indicated the Philippines will not back down. "All I know is that we cannot let [China] get away with what they're doing." A Hague-based arbitral court's 2016 decision dismissed China's sweeping South China Sea claims. Beijing maintains that the ruling was politically motivated. The 60 Minutes interview aired just two weeks after a tense back-and-forth between Teodoro and senior Chinese defense officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore, where the Philippine official said a "deficit of trust" in China was the greatest obstacle to a solution to tensions in the South China Sea. Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight, told 60 Minutes: "China has decided that at this point in their history, they are large enough so they can buck the law." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore on May 31: "We're watching very closely China's destabilizing actions, and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain-by force or coercion-is unacceptable." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakuntold reporters in February: "The Philippines has worked with the U.S. to bring in the Typhon system. It's placing its national security and defense in the hands of others and introducing geopolitical confrontation and the risk of an arms race into the region…China will not sit idly by when its security interests are harmed or threatened." Speaking with Newsweek on the sidelines of the Shangril-La Dialogue, Teodoro said Manila would seek to increase deterrence against China's activities in the Philippine exclusive economic zone by pushing for "international resonance" and "building up capability resilience." The Philippines is expected to continue holding joint military exercises with the U.S. and other countries concerned with China's growing assertiveness, including Japan and Australia. Last year, the U.S. pledged $500 million in military aid to its Southeast Asian ally. Related Articles US Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Counters China Navy PresenceChina Touts Weapons Capabilities As Iran's Defenses CollapseWhy Trump Needs Tesla | OpinionMap Shows World's Nuclear Stockpiles As China Warheads Increase 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Doubles Down on Missiles Angering China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines' defense chief has again pushed back against China's claim that hosting U.S. missiles in the country amounts to a provocation. "It's none of China's business; it's for Philippine defense," Gilberto Teodoro said in a recent interview with 60 Minutes when asked to respond to Beijing's objections. Why It Matters China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, citing historical rights—a position that puts it at odds with competing claims by the Philippines and several other neighbors. In recent years, Manila has stepped up its response to China's growing presence within the Philippine maritime zone. Fierce clashes between Chinese and Philippine forces near disputed reefs have, on several occasions, left Philippine sailors injured. These incidents have put Manila's Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington in the spotlight, raising questions of whether U.S. forces could be drawn into a conflict with nuclear-armed China. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a request for comment outside of office hours. What To Know On the latest episode of 60 Minutes, which aired Sunday, Teodoro compared China to "the proverbial schoolyard bully." "It just muscles you over," he said. The conversation turned to the Mid-Range Capability, or "Typhon" missile launcher, which the U.S. Army deployed to the Philippines ahead of joint military drills in April. The system can be equipped with Tomahawk missiles—whose maximum range of 1,200 miles puts much of China's east coast within reach—as well as shorter-range Standard Missile 6s. Army officials have said the SM-6 is the only U.S. missile currently capable of intercepting a hypersonic missile, such as those possessed by China and Russia, in late flight. A U.S. "Typhon" launcher is seen in Northern Luzon in the Philippines on April 8, 2024. A U.S. "Typhon" launcher is seen in Northern Luzon in the Philippines on April 8, 2024. Ryan DeBooy/U.S. Army China has repeatedly called for the Typhon to be removed from the Philippines. Asked by interviewer Cecelia Vega whether the missiles are there to stay, Teodoro said he could neither confirm nor deny such a plan. "What happens within our territory is for our defense," he said. "We follow international law. What's the fuss?" Teodoro said he didn't know how the feud would end, but indicated the Philippines will not back down. "All I know is that we cannot let [China] get away with what they're doing." A Hague-based arbitral court's 2016 decision dismissed China's sweeping South China Sea claims. Beijing maintains that the ruling was politically motivated. The 60 Minutes interview aired just two weeks after a tense back-and-forth between Teodoro and senior Chinese defense officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore, where the Philippine official said a "deficit of trust" in China was the greatest obstacle to a solution to tensions in the South China Sea. What People Have Said Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight, told 60 Minutes: "China has decided that at this point in their history, they are large enough so they can buck the law." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore on May 31: "We're watching very closely China's destabilizing actions, and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain—by force or coercion—is unacceptable." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in February: "The Philippines has worked with the U.S. to bring in the Typhon system. It's placing its national security and defense in the hands of others and introducing geopolitical confrontation and the risk of an arms race into the region…China will not sit idly by when its security interests are harmed or threatened." What's Next Speaking with Newsweek on the sidelines of the Shangril-La Dialogue, Teodoro said Manila would seek to increase deterrence against China's activities in the Philippine exclusive economic zone by pushing for "international resonance" and "building up capability resilience." The Philippines is expected to continue holding joint military exercises with the U.S. and other countries concerned with China's growing assertiveness, including Japan and Australia. Last year, the U.S. pledged $500 million in military aid to its Southeast Asian ally.
Axios
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Ship-killing NMESIS heads to Philippines as China protests Typhon
The U.S. will deploy ship-sinking missile launchers in the Philippines this spring as part of a military exercise also involving Australia and Japan. Why it matters: The planned appearance of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, at Balikatan 2025 comes amid games of chicken in the South China Sea. Beijing also continues to protest the U.S. Army's Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, which will be tested fired at Talisman Sabre, another drill, according to Defense News. The latest: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Indo-Pacific last week, pledging to "reestablish deterrence" in a region the previous administration considered vital to international peace and commerce. Zoom in: NMESIS pairs specialized Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with Naval Strike Missiles, which can hit targets at distances greater than 100 nautical miles. The weapon is a key component of Force Design, an overhaul of the Marine Corps' offensive and defensive capabilities. What's next: The Balikatan drills kick off later this month, amassing some 15,000 troops.
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines set to host second Typhon missile system, signalling Trump's defence pledge
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement
