According to Voice of America's report on January 23, a high-ranking Philippine government official announced that the United States transferred the "Typhon" guided missile system from Lawaag Airport to another location on Luzon Island.
The "Typhon" system can launch multi-purpose guided missiles with a range of thousands of kilometers. "Tomahawk" missiles in this system can strike targets in China and Russia from Philippine territory. Standard Type-6 missiles can target air and sea targets over 200 kilometers away.
ACCORDING TO THE PHILIPPINE OFFICIAL, THE REDEPLOYMENT HELPS VERIFY:
System mobility
Potential deployment locations
Speed of transfer to new launch sites
This movement flexibility improves missile survival rates during potential conflicts.
Experts note satellite images in recent weeks showed the system and equipment loaded onto a cargo plane at Lawaag International Airport. Reuters-reviewed images revealed removal of the white rain-resistant cover previously protecting the "Typhon" equipment.
"Typhon" is part of a broader U.S. plan to deploy anti-ship weapons in Asia. It's a medium-range ground-launched missile system manufactured by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Army.