The Philippine military plans to acquire the Typhon missile system to protect its maritime interests, some of which overlap with China’s claims.
According to Philippine Army chief Lieutenant-General Roy Galido, the acquisition is planned due to its perceived feasibility and functionality within the country’s archipelagic defense implementation concept.
He stated that the total number to be acquired will depend on “economics.”
According to the PA official, the Typhon system will give the army the capability to project force up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers), which is the limit of a country’s maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Galido also said that within 200 nautical miles, there is no land, so it is necessary to contribute to the defense of Philippine interests by having such a platform to assist the primary major service to focus on the maritime and air domain.
Under this situation, the Typhon platform will protect the country’s floating assets, such as Philippine Navy ships, coast guard vessels, and other sea crafts.
It will be recalled that the US Army previously deployed a mid-range missile system in the northern part of the Philippines for annual military exercises with its long-time ally in early 2024 and decided to leave it there despite criticism from China that it was destabilizing to Asia.