The Mid-Range Capability missile has landed in Luzon, Philippines, as part of the Salaknib exercise, marking the first deployment of the new capability for the U.S. Army’s strategy in the region. The 1st Multi-Domain Task Force brought the MRC weapon to the country on April 11, traveling over 8,000 miles from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The deployment enhances interoperability, readiness, and defense capabilities in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During an April 16 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George commented on the deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The Army’s plan to pursue the midrange missile was first reported in September 2020, with a goal to field the chosen missile by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The midrange missile fits between Precision Strike Munition and ground-launched hypersonic missiles in the Army’s fires portfolio.
Lockheed Martin was chosen in November 2020 to build the midrange missile prototype, incorporating elements from naval missiles. The MRC weapon consists of a vertical launch system using the Navy’s Raytheon-built Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk missiles. Salaknib exercise with the U.S. and Philippine armed forces aims to enhance bilateral land power capacity and capabilities for joint operations.
