The U.S. Army’s Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) System

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Updated January 23, 2025

The U.S. Army’s 's Typhon Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRFCapability (MRC) System

Updated April 22, 2025 (IF12135)

What Is the Army's Mid-Range Capability (MRC) System?

Improved Chinese and Russian long) System

What Is the Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System?

Reported improvements to Russian and Chinese artillery systems present a challenge to the U.S. Army. Improved longer-ranged artillery systems, new employment techniques for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the proliferation of special munitions (such as precision, thermobaric, loitering, and top-attack munitions) have renewed concerns about the potential impact of Russian and Chinese fires on U.S. combat operations and ground combat systems. In response, the U.S. Army is seeking to improve its ability to deliver what it refers to as long-range precision fires (LRPF) by upgrading current artillery and missile systems, developing new longer-ranged systems and hypersonic weapons, and modifying existing air- and sea- launched missiles for ground launch.

Originally known as the Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC) System, SMRF MRC is part of the Army’'s LRPF modernization portfolio. It and is intended to hit targets at ranges between the Army’'s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and the developmental Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) system. The SMRF Weapon SystemMRC system leverages existing Raytheon-produced SM-6 missiles and Raytheon-produced Tomahawk cruise missiles and modifies them for ground launch. The SMRFMRC system is also known as the “Typhon”"Typhon" missile system (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Typhon Launchers and Battery Operations Center

Source: The Drive: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/army- fires-tomahawk-missile-from-its-new-typhon-battery-in-major- milestone, accessed July 6, 2023.

SMRF Weapon System Components

MRC Weapon System Components

According to the Army, the prototype SMRFMRC battery is planned to consist of four launchers and a battery operations center (BOC) (Figure 1). SMRF MRC batteries are to be equipped with a number of prime movers, trailers,

generators, and support vehicles. Numbers of soldiers assigned to each battery is presently unknown. The Army originally planned for the first prototype SMRF battery to be fielded no later than the fourth quarter of FY2023 and three additional batteries were to be fielded on an annual basis thereafter. It is not clear at this time if the Army will field more than four SMRF batteries or if any of the batteries will be Army National Guard units.

SMRF MRC Unit Organization

The Army plans to field one SMRFMRC battery in the StrategicLong-Range Fires Battalion of the Army’s's five regionally aligned Multi- Domain Task ForceForces (MDTF) (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Army Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)

Figure 2. MDTF Organization

Source: Army Information Paper provided to CRS, April 10, 2025.

Notes: MDEB = Multi-Domain Effects Battalion; HHC = Headquarters and Headquarters Company; MI = Military Intelligence; ERSE = Extended Range Sensing Element; ID = Information Dominance; LRFB = Long-Range Fires Battalion; HHB = Headquarters and Headquarters Battery; LRHW = Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon; MRC = Mid-Range Capability; HIMARS = High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems; FSC = Forward Sustainment Company; IFPC = Integrated Fire Protection Capability; BSB = Brigade Support Battalion.

The Army describes MDTFs as "theater-level maneuver elements designed to synchronize precision effects and precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint forces to execute their operational plans."

Program Status

MRC Test Launches and Full Operational Capability

In June 2023, the Army reported,

The Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office's Mid-Range Capability Project Office successfully demonstrated the launch of a Tomahawk missile from the Army's prototype Mid-Range Capability system. Soldiers assigned to the 1^st

Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.

Note: MRC Battery depicted above is now known as the SMRF Battery.

The Army describes MDTFs as “theater-level maneuver elements designed to synchronize precision effects and precision fires in all domains against adversary anti- access/area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed roles.”

The U.S. Army’s Typhon Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System

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What Is Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD)?

Anti-Access (A2) is an action, activity, or capability, usually long-range, designed to prevent an advancing enemy force from entering an operational area. Area Denial (AD) is an action, activity, or capability, usually short-range, designed to limit an enemy force’s freedom of action within an operational area.

Source: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, November 2021.

Program Status

Reportedly, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of four prototype Typhon systems to the Army on December 2, 2022. The Army originally planned to field its first prototype SMRF battery no later than the fourth quarter of FY2023.

SMRF Test Launches and Full Operational Capability On June 27, 2023, the Army reported

The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office’s Mid-Range Capability Project Office successfully demonstrated the launch of a Tomahawk missile from the Army’s prototype Mid-Range Capability system. Soldiers assigned to the 1st MDTF conducted this live-fire event. This test follows the successful launch of an SM-6 missile from the Mid-Range Capability system earlier this year, confirming the full operational capability of the system.

Plans to Deploy SMRF in 2024 Reportedly, in November 2023, U.S. Army Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn noted

We have tested [Typhon] and we have a battery or two of them today. In 2024, we intend to deploy that system in the region. I’m not going to say where and when, but I will just say that we will deploy them in the region.

SMRF MRC Battery Deployed to the Philippines for Exercise Salaknib 2024 According to U.S. Army Pacific, the Joint Base Lewis- McChord’McChord's 1^st MDTF deployed a SMRFan MRC battery to Northern Luzon, Philippines, onin April 11, 2024, as part of Exercise Salaknib 24. Reportedly, the deployment of the SMRF battery isAccording to Jane's Defence, the MRC battery deployment was to be temporary for exercise purposes, and it iswas to be used during Exercise Salaknib 24 and the upcomingfollow-on Exercise Balikatan 24.

SMRF MRC Battery ActivationActivations and Fielding The Army accepted its first MRC battery in December 2022. Reportedly, the Army activated its second SMRFthis first MRC battery— D Battery, 5^th Battalion, 3^rd Field Artillery Regiment—as part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s 1^st MDTF in January 2024. The article notes that “while no statement can be found on the creation of the first battery,” it is assumed that “the second battery activated was part of the Army’s 1^st Long-Range Fires Battalion, implying that that the 1^st MDTF now has at least two Typhon batteries.”

Recent SMRF Typhon Activities in the Philippines 's 1^st MDTF in January 2024. Reportedly, a second Typhon battery has been activated at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and this battery is to be assigned to the Hawaii-based 3^rd MDTF later in 2025. It was also reported that

the Army is working to field another three batteries to the remaining multidomain task force units between fiscal [years] 2026 and 2028 and plans to next field a battery to the 2^nd MDTF based in Europe in fiscal [year] 2026.

MRC Typhon Activities in the Philippines Reportedly in January 2025, the Army moved Typhon launchers from Laoag airfield in the Philippines to another location on the island of Luzon. According to a Philippine government official, ", “The redeployment would help determine where and how fast the missile battery could be moved to a new firing position.”" U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) officials reportedly indicated to Reutersreportedly indicated that the United States” "has coordinated closely with the Philippine government on every aspect of the MRC deployment, including the location,”" and further noted that “noted "the relocation was not an indication that the batteries would be permanently stationed in the Philippines.” " In terms of the impact of the Typhon deployment,

The weapon [Typhon] drew sharp criticism from China when it was first deployed in April 2024 during a training exercise. In September, when the United States said it had no immediate plans to pull the Typhons out of the Philippines, China and Russia condemned the deployment as fueling an arms race.

Potential Issues for Congress

Planned SMRF Units The Army’s original plans called for fielding four SMRF batteries. The Army, however, plans for five MDTFs, with each MDTF having one organic SMRF battery. Reports suggest the 1^st MDTF now has two SMRF batteries instead of one. The Army has reportedly stated that while “each [MDTF] is supposed to have one battery,” that “MDTFs can be adjusted to their combatant commander’s requirements with more or fewer units.” If this is the case, it suggests the Army may eventually field more than the four originally planned SMRF batteries. Congress might seek clarification on the Army’s current plans for total number of SMRF batteries, including if any batteries are to be fielded in the Army National Guard.

Overseas Stationing of SMRF Units As previously noted, the Army reportedly planned to deploy SMRF in 2024 in support of U.S. Army Pacific at undisclosed locations in the Pacific region. In April 2024, a SMRF battery was deployed to the Philippines for exercises, and these systems are still in the country as of early 2025. It is not known if this temporary deployment could eventually be made permanent, and U.S. defense officials have given no public indication that the Philippine deployment is permanent or long term. It is possible that SMRF units may be stationed elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region or at other overseas locations. Given the importance and issues that often affect securing overseas basing, Congress might examine ongoing efforts to secure Army long-range precision fires unit basing in the Indo-Pacific region and other overseas regions.

Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces

IF12135

The U.S. Army’s Typhon Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12135 · VERSION 22 · UPDATED

Disclaimer

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

2025 MRC Live Fire Exercises

Reportedly, the Army does not plan to conduct a Typhon live fire exercise during spring 2025 exercises in the Philippines. It was further noted that the

Typhon has remained in the country, angering China, which has criticized the move and warned it could destabilize the region. Officials have yet to fire the missile system in the Philippines. It is unclear how long Typhon will remain in the Philippines or if it will go elsewhere in the Pacific theater.

Reportedly, the Army does plan to conduct a Typhon live fire exercise during the summer as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia.

Army Considers Marine Corps Long-Range Fires (LRF) System to Complement Typhon System

Reportedly, the Army has expressed interest in the Marines' new uncrewed LRF Tomahawk cruise missile launch vehicle to possibly complement the larger Typhon system. The Army reportedly is examining options to decrease the size of the existing Typhon system to make it "easier to deploy and operate based on lessons learned from its first overseas deployment to the Philippines." The tractor trailer-mounted Typhon has four launch cells, while the LRF has only one launch cell.

Potential Issues for Congress

Stationing Locations for MRC Batteries

According to previously noted reports, the Army has one MRC battery stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, with another scheduled to be deployed to Germany in FY2026 and a third MRC battery to be assigned to a Hawaii-based MDTF by the end of 2025. The locations of the final two MRC batteries are not known publicly, and Congress might decide to engage with Army leadership regarding the stationing plans for the final two planned MRC batteries.

Potential Deterrence Value of MRC Units

Previously noted reports suggest that China considers the deployment of MRC batteries in the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific as potentially "destabilizing" and that their presence in the region could lead to an "arms race." Given these reactions, it could be argued that MRC units are contributing to deterrence operations in the Indo-Pacific and might also play a similar role in other regions as well. Given this possibility, Congress might decide to engage with the Army, Department of Defense leadership, and Combatant Commanders to discuss how this potential deterrence value can best be utilized in other theaters of operation.