US Typhon missiles in Luzon for SMEEs, CATEX Katihan, not live-fire drills

The Philippine Army clarified on Tuesday that the US Typhon missile launchers deployed in Luzon will not be used for live-fire exercises during upcoming military drills but will be utilized in subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) and Combined Arms Training Exercise (CATEX) Katihan.

Army spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala stated at a press briefing that the SMEEs, scheduled for the second or third week of February, will focus on payload delivery systems and familiarization with the missile capability.

The CATEX Katihan exercise aims to prepare new units and continue training from previous iterations, in preparation for the annual Salaknib Exercise between the Philippine Army and the US Army.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla underscored that no country can dictate how the Philippines deploys its defense assets, rejecting China's demand to remove the Typhon missile system.

The weapon system arrived in April 2024 and was first used during Balikatan exercises, marking the ground-based MRC missile system's debut in the Indo-Pacific region.