Latest news with #StandardMissile-6
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The US Army fired its new missile system that rattles China in a Western Pacific first. It found its target and sank it.
The US Army fired a Standard Missile-6 from its Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, system in Australia. The successful live-fire test sank a maritime target. The MRC's deployment in the region has previously and repeatedly irritated China. The US Army fired its new MRC missile system in the Western Pacific for the first time, striking and sinking a maritime target. The Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system drew China's ire during a previous deployment, with Beijing repeatedly warning that its presence risks escalating tensions. The Army sees the weapon as an essential strike asset that closes a critical capability gap in the region. The Army said on Tuesday that the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force successfully fired a Standard Missile-6 using the versatile MRC launcher and sank an unspecified sea target. The test occurred earlier this month during the joint Talisman Sabre exercise in northern Australia. The service said it was the first time the land-based MRC had been fired west of the international date line, which splits the Pacific Ocean. "The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of a [Standard Missile-6] live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate, and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities," Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF, said. While this was the first live test of the MRC in the region, it has been deployed there before, notably during a joint exercise with the Philippines last year. The MRC is a high-value system for the Army, filling both a capability and range gap by providing a flexible way to fire both the SM-6s and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The MRC's development followed the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns about Russian violations. The treaty banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,000 kilometers. The withdrawal, overseen by the first Trump administration and driven by Moscow's SSC-8/9M729 missile, opened the door to the development of previously banned weapons. When the MRC was first deployed to the Philippines, China was quick to express its frustration. In September of last year, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign military, called the deployment "a move to turn back the wheel of history," adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." Earlier last year, he said that Beijing "strongly opposes the US strengthening forward deployment at China's doorstep." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles, including many intermediate-range systems able to threaten US and allied forces in the region. China also expressed its irritation to the Philippines last year. In August 2024, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that 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." China has warned Manila against igniting an arms race. Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests to the detriment of its own. Manila has expressed interest in the MRC's capabilities as a useful combat capability. China's US embassy didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment on the test. The MRC is a work in progress for the Army, which is still exploring how best to employ it. During the MRC's deployment to the Philippines, US personnel also tinkered with and reworked the system in the field, according to a Government Accountability Office report earlier this year, providing user input that led to "multiple design changes." The test of the MRC in Australia, the Army said, validated the ability to forward deploy long-range precision fires. It also, Germann added, provided valuable insights and lessons for future land-based maritime strike capabilities. Mobile launchers with the ability to strike targets on land and at sea have tremendous potential in Pacific combat. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
The US Army fired its new missile system that rattles China in a Western Pacific first. It found its target and sank it.
The US Army fired its new MRC missile system in the Western Pacific for the first time, striking and sinking a maritime target. The Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system drew China's ire during a previous deployment, with Beijing repeatedly warning that its presence risks escalating tensions. The Army sees the weapon as an essential strike asset that closes a critical capability gap in the region. The Army said on Tuesday that the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force successfully fired a Standard Missile-6 using the versatile MRC launcher and sank an unspecified sea target. The test occurred earlier this month during the joint Talisman Sabre exercise in northern Australia. The service said it was the first time the land-based MRC had been fired west of the international date line, which splits the Pacific Ocean. "The deployment of the MRC and successful execution of a [Standard Missile-6] live fire against a maritime target is another significant step forward in our ability to deploy, integrate, and command and control advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities," Col. Wade Germann, commander of the 3rd MDTF, said. While this was the first live test of the MRC in the region, it has been deployed there before, notably during a joint exercise with the Philippines last year. The MRC is a high-value system for the Army, filling both a capability and range gap by providing a flexible way to fire both the SM-6s and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The MRC's development followed the 2019 US withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns about Russian violations. The treaty banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,000 kilometers. The withdrawal, overseen by the first Trump administration and driven by Moscow's SSC-8/9M729 missile, opened the door to the development of previously banned weapons. When the MRC was first deployed to the Philippines, China was quick to express its frustration. In September of last year, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign military, called the deployment "a move to turn back the wheel of history," adding that "it gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region." Earlier last year, he said that Beijing "strongly opposes the US strengthening forward deployment at China's doorstep." China notably maintains a large arsenal of ballistic missiles, including many intermediate-range systems able to threaten US and allied forces in the region. China also expressed its irritation to the Philippines last year. In August 2024, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said that 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." China has warned Manila against igniting an arms race. Beijing has said the Philippines, a key US ally, is serving American interests to the detriment of its own. Manila has expressed interest in the MRC's capabilities as a useful combat capability. China's US embassy didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment on the test. The MRC is a work in progress for the Army, which is still exploring how best to employ it. During the MRC's deployment to the Philippines, US personnel also tinkered with and reworked the system in the field, according to a Government Accountability Office report earlier this year, providing user input that led to "multiple design changes." The test of the MRC in Australia, the Army said, validated the ability to forward deploy long-range precision fires. It also, Germann added, provided valuable insights and lessons for future land-based maritime strike capabilities. Mobile launchers with the ability to strike targets on land and at sea have tremendous potential in Pacific combat.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Hits Missile Power Milestone Amid China Threat
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 United States sank a maritime target using a missile during an exercise in Australia, as China continues its rapid naval buildup and expands its warship presence in the Pacific. The Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) was launched from a land-based Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system, a type that has been deployed in the Philippines since April 2024. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment via email. Why It Matters The MRC can fire the Tomahawk cruise missile and the SM-6, with ranges of 1,000 and 290 miles, respectively. The latter is also known as "three missiles in one," as it is capable of being used in anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and ballistic missile defense. The MRC's deployment in the Philippines—a U.S. treaty ally involved in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea—comes as Beijing asserts its sovereignty in the area by maintaining a persistent presence of naval and coast guard vessels. These often result in standoffs and clashes with rival forces—particularly those of the Philippines. Prior to the MRC's live-fire sinking exercise—the first of its kind outside the continental U.S.—China flexed its naval strength through two high-profile missions in the Pacific Ocean earlier this year: a dual aircraft carrier deployment and the circumnavigation of Australia. What To Know The live-fire event took place at an undisclosed location in Australia's Northern Territory on Wednesday as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025—held across Australia and involving over 35,000 military personnel from 19 Indo-Pacific, North American and European nations. The United States Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force conducts the first Mid-Range Capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental U.S. in Northern Territory, Australia, on July 16, 2025. The United States Army Third Multi-Domain Task Force conducts the first Mid-Range Capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental U.S. in Northern Territory, Australia, on July 16, 2025. Sgt. Perla Alfaro/U.S. Army The missile successfully sank its target, the U.S. Army Pacific said, without providing further details. The MRC was deployed by the U.S. Army's Third Multi-Domain Task Force, a unit capable of delivering precision strikes against anti-access and area denial networks—referring to efforts that prevent or restrict an enemy from entering and operating within a contested area. The MRC stationed in the Philippines has been assigned to the First Multi-Domain Task Force. The deployment in Australia demonstrated the Third Multi-Domain Task Force's ability to operate and contribute to regional security and stability, according to the U.S. Army Pacific. The live-fire drill marked what the U.S. Army Pacific described as a "significant milestone" in the development of America's land-based maritime and strategic strike capabilities. U.S. Army Colonel Wade Germann, commander of the Third Multi-Domain Task Force, said it represented another significant step forward in the unit's ability to "deploy, integrate, and command and control" advanced land-based maritime strike capabilities. What People Are Saying The U.S. Army Pacific said on Wednesday: "The demonstration highlights the strength of the Australia-U.S. Alliance and the rapidly advancing capability and capacity of [the Third Multi-Domain Task Force] and the 10th Australian Brigade to deploy advanced, land-based maritime strike capabilities in support of regional security and stability." U.S. Army Colonel Wade Germann, commander of the Third Multi-Domain Task Force, said in a press release on Wednesday: "This exercise validated our targeting and [command and control] interoperability with our partner unit the Australian 10th Brigade through the Land Effects Coordination Cell. We have set the stage to develop and deploy combat-credible, multi-domain capabilities forward in support of the Combined and Joint Force." What Happens Next The live-fire exercise provided "valuable insights and lessons learned" that will inform the development and employment of land-based maritime strike capabilities, according to the U.S. Army Pacific. It remains to be seen whether similar exercises will be held in the future.
Newsweek
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Sends Stark Warning to US Ally
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. China's military has condemned the Philippines over reports that a second U.S. intermediate-range missile system may soon be deployed to the Southeast Asian country. "Inviting wolves into the house will ultimately harm oneself and destroy one's own home," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang warned Thursday, in a clear rebuke of United States involvement. Newsweek reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Department of Defense for comment. Why It Matters The U.S. Army first deployed the Mid-Range Capability, or "Typhon," missile system to Luzon, the Philippines' main island, in the spring of 2024, ahead of joint drills with Philippine forces. The platform is capable of firing both Standard Missile-6 interceptors and Tomahawk missiles, which can reach parts of southern China. Philippine officials maintain that the missile launcher is purely for defensive purposes and not directed at any particular country. China has repeatedly called the presence of both systems destabilizing and demanded their removal. The issue has further strained ties with the U.S. defense treaty ally, already tense due to the long-running South China Sea dispute. What To Know During the Chinese Defense Ministry's regular press conference on Thursday, Zhang was asked about reports that another Typhon missile system could be stationed in the Philippines. Zhang said the Asia-Pacific region "is not a gladiatorial arena for major powers" and warned Manila not to "repeat the mistakes of the past." A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability System fires a Standard Missile-6 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on November 8, 2024. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability System fires a Standard Missile-6 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on November 8, 2024. U.S. Army "The Philippines has intensified its efforts to introduce strategic and tactical weapons, tied itself to the U.S. chariot, and undermined regional security and stability by acting for the tiger, which seriously runs counter to the common interests of the people of the countries in the region," the official said. Newsweek was unable to verify whether a second Typhon unit is currently scheduled for deployment in the Philippines. But a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command official, speaking on background last month, told reporters the deployment would move forward "if they [the Philippines] say yes." Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido previously expressed interest in acquiring more Typhon units, citing their feasibility and role in archipelagic defense. The Mid-Range Capability will be featured during the U.S.-Australian-led Exercise Talisman Sabre military drills in late July and early August. It will be the first Typhon system to be test-fired in the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier this year, the Philippines received additional U.S. firepower in the form of NMESIS ship-killing missiles deployed to Batanes, the northernmost province facing the China-claimed island of Taiwan. What People Are Saying Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. responded to criticism of the Typhon deployment in January: "I don't understand the comments on the Typhon missile system. We don't make any comments on their missile systems, and their missile systems are a thousand times more powerful than what we have." U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters during his first official visit to Manila in late March: "We have already set a robust agenda for the next few years. Our staff, both of us, are going to remain actively engaged. It reflects the strength of our ironclad alliance, particularly in the face of communist China's aggression in the region." What Happens Next The Philippines is expected to continue strengthening ties with the U.S. and other friendly regional powers, with an eye toward China's assertive actions in support of its territorial claims within the Philippines' maritime zone.
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where Hegseth Wants US Military on China's Doorstep
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. U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth on Wednesday stressed the role of regional partners in the Pentagon's bid to counter an increasingly assertive China. "The Indo-Pacific is our priority theater, and China is our pacing threat,' he said while making the case for the defense budget requested by the Trump administration for the next fiscal year. Those words echoed his May 31 remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore, where he hailed examples of U.S. and allied military cooperation—including those illustrated on the Newsweek map below. Why It Matters China's rapid military buildup and competing territorial claims have strained ties with several neighbors, including U.S.-allied Philippines and Japan, both of which share defense treaties with Washington that could potentially draw American forces into a conflict. Chinese threats and increasing military activities around Taiwan, the island democracy Beijing claims as its territory, have further raised concerns. The tensions have driven some of China's neighbors to deepen military cooperation with the United States and one another. Newsweek contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment by email, but did not receive a response before publication time. What To Know In Singapore, Hegseth praised President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy while blaming former President Joe Biden for the U.S.-Mexico border crisis to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yet, he added, "America First certainly does not mean America alone." Taking aim at what he called China's "destabilizing actions," Hegseth said the U.S. should be prepared for war, although deterring Chinese military aggression by raising its costs was preferable. "We're doing this here in the Indo-Pacific in three distinct ways: first, by improving our forward force posture. Second, by helping allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities. And third, by rebuilding defense industrial bases," he told attendees. These efforts include deploying to the first island chain assets such as the U.S. Marine Corps' NMESIS high-precision anti-ship missile system to the Luzon Strait—a maritime choke point frequented by Chinese warships. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon missile system fires a Standard Missile-6 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on November 8, 2024. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon missile system fires a Standard Missile-6 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, on November 8, 2024. The platform was delivered to the Philippines' far-northern Batanes province about 120 miles south of Taiwan. The deployment "enhanced our interoperability and improved our readiness on cutting-edge platforms, where we need them and when we need them," Hegseth said. The NMESIS missile system adds to the growing U.S. firepower in the Southeast Asian country. Last year, the U.S. deployed a U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability, also known as the Typhon missile launcher, to the Philippines ahead of joint military drills last spring. Philippine officials initially suggested the system would be removed after the drills, but later indicated it could remain indefinitely, irking officials in Beijing over the system's ability to reach China's eastern seaboard with weapons like as the Standard Missile-6 and the Tomahawk cruise missile. A second Typhon system will be deployed to AUKUS partner Australia this summer, where the U.S. Army plans to conduct its first-ever live-fire test of the system on foreign soil, Hegseth said. This year, Washington and Canberra also reached an agreement for Australia to produce 155-millimeter artillery rounds and assemble guided multiple-launch rocket systems, boosting Australia's potential as a force multiplier in the event of a conflict. Washington's efforts to deepen cooperation with Japan, a key Pacific security treaty ally, are also advancing, with upgrades to the joint headquarters of the U.S. Forces Japan. The move will increase deterrence and mark "progress the alliance has made toward improving interoperability and strengthening Japan's capabilities," Hegseth said. The changes, which began in April, will integrate U.S. land, air, sea, space and cyber forces under a single headquarters. There are currently over 50,000 active-duty American military personnel in Japan—the most stationed in any foreign country. The U.S. is also ramping up cooperation with India, one of the four Quad nations and a country that continues to experience friction with China along its disputed border regions in the Himalayas. The Pentagon is working with the South Asian country—an increasingly capable arms manufacturer—to "co-produce equipment needed to deter aggression, and this includes negotiating an agreement to bring our industrial bases ever closer," Hegseth said. Following February talks in Washington between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two leaders announced an "Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance" that will see the two countries co-develop and co-produce sea drones and counter-drone systems. What People Are Saying: Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Beijing's Tsinghua University, told Newsweek:"What I want to stress is we are on the path to better relations with regional countries—so we don't need the U.S. to teach us." "I think Secretary Hegseth is kind of trying to [come] between China and regional countries. I don't think this will be successful." What's Next The House Appropriations Committee advanced the Pentagon's request for a base defense budget of $892.6 billion, lower than the $1 trillion figure previously pledged by Trump. That, along with a $150 billion reconciliation package providing additional funds for priority programs such as shipbuilding and munitions, is expected to pass in the overall congressional vote.
