Speculations Surrounding Deployment of US Typhon Missile System Near China and Russia.

The United States Army is considering the possibility of deploying its latest missile system, known as the Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC), in strategic areas near China and Russia. As reported by Newsweek, this prospect emerged following a visit by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force to a U.S. military base in Washington state, where the new missile system was prominently displayed. The visit, documented by the 62nd Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force, has sparked speculation about potential deployments of the Typhon system in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly on Japanese territory.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

In May and June 2023, U.S. Army soldiers successfully conducted their inaugural Tomahawk Land Attack Missile launches from the Mid-Range Capability launcher at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California (Picture source: US DoD)

The Typhon missile system, which incorporates the Tomahawk cruise missile and the Standard Missile 6, is part of the U.S. Army's modernization efforts aimed at enhancing long-range precision strike capabilities. The system is designed to fill the operational gap between the Army's short-range Precision Strike Missile and its long-range hypersonic weapon, both of which are still under development.

With its capability to launch missiles over distances ranging from 310 to 1,800 miles, the Typhon system is considered an essential component of the Army's future Strategic Fires Battalion, which will play a key role in the Multi-Domain Task Force.

In recent months, the Typhon system has already been deployed outside the United States, with a notable appearance in the Philippines during a joint military exercise. The temporary presence of the missile system in northern Luzon, near the contested South China Sea, drew sharp criticism from China, which accused the U.S. of exacerbating tensions in the region.

The potential for additional deployments in Japan, particularly in Okinawa, could place key military targets in China and North Korea within striking distance, further complicating the strategic landscape in the Asia-Pacific.

The U.S. Army's efforts to modernize its missile capabilities date back to 2019, following the United States' withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a bilateral agreement with Russia that previously restricted the deployment of ground-based missile systems with ranges between 310 and 3,420 miles.

The potential deployment of Typhon systems in Japan has raised concerns in Moscow, particularly given the ongoing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kuril Islands. Russian analysts suggest that such a deployment could prompt Russia to position similar missile systems in the Far East, potentially leading to an arms race in the region.

The United States also plans to deploy its long-range missile systems in Europe, with Tomahawk missiles, the Standard Missile 6, and hypersonic weapons expected to be stationed in Germany by 2026. This move is seen as a signal to U.S. allies, encouraging them to develop and deploy similar capabilities.

As the global landscape of missile deployment evolves, experts warn of the risks of inadvertent escalation, particularly with the introduction of dual-capable systems capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.

A US Army slide illustrating the components and structure of the Mid-Range Capability system. (Picture source: US Army)