The United States Army has unveiled its Typhon land-based missile system in Japan for the first time during Exercise Resolute Dragon 2025, underscoring deepening US-Japan defense cooperation as regional tensions heighten over China’s military activities.
The two-week exercise, which concludes on September 25, brings together 20,000 Japanese and US marines, supported by warships and missile batteries, to focus on maritime defense and security operations across Japan, according to the US Department of Defense.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the Typhon system integrates a mobile launcher platform capable of firing both Tomahawk cruise missiles and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors, enabling it to target land installations, naval vessels, and aerial threats. Its truck-mounted design allows for rapid deployment and repositioning, making it a versatile tool for multi-domain operations.
“Employing multiple systems and different types of munitions, it can create dilemmas for the enemy,” said Colonel Wade Germann, commander of the task force operating the missile system, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. He added that the system’s mobility provides the speed and flexibility required in modern conflicts.
The Typhon’s deployment to Japan follows its first overseas stationing in the Philippines in 2024, a move that drew strong condemnation from Beijing. Its current presence coincides with growing regional unease after Japan’s defense ministry reported sighting China’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian, in the East China Sea near the contested Senkaku Islands—administered by Japan but claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands.
While the US has confirmed that the Typhon system will leave Japan once Exercise Resolute Dragon concludes, its brief appearance signals Washington’s intent to strengthen deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific at a time of heightened maritime disputes.
Source – My News Ghana
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