The US Army's Typhon missile launcher could be a game-changer in modern warfare as a powerful and adaptable weapon that can fill a key need by hitting targets at distances previously unreachable by land-based systems.

The Typhon Strategic Mid-Range Fires system, originally known as the Mid-Range Capability system, is a significant leap forward for the Army.

The Typhon transport erector launcher is built around four containerized strike-length cells from the MK-41 Vertical Launch System, an innovation typically found in naval platforms.

These cells can launch both the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk cruise missile, the latter of which has a range of 2,400km.

Positioned in the gap between short-range and hypersonic systems, the Typhon's medium range enhances the Army's ability to strike targets at a range that complements the service's Precision Strike Missile and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.

The first four prototype Typhon systems were delivered to the US Army in December 2022.

In April, as part of Exercise Salaknib 24, the Army deployed a Typhon battery from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington state, to Northern Luzon, the Philippines.

The deployment highlighted the system's role in countering regional threats in the Indo-Pacific, traveling more than 24,140km in over 15 hours aboard a C-17 Globemaster III airframe.

Engaging multiple threats

The Typhon system represents a significant leap in the Army's ability to project power across vast distances and engage multiple types of threats from land, air and sea.

The Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile typically launched from ships and submarines. It is renowned for accuracy and stealth.

Capable of flying at extremely low altitudes and high subsonic speeds, the Tomahawk can evade radar detection by flying near the ground. Its guidance systems allow it to follow mission-tailored routes.

If the Typhon system were deployed to the Middle East, it would have the potential to launch a Tomahawk missile that could enter Iranian airspace undetected within an hour.

Meanwhile, the SM-6 is unique in having three distinct roles: anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and ballistic missile defense.

Originally designed for naval use, the SM-6 has been adapted for land-based operations in the form of the Typhon.

In an antiaircraft role, the SM-6 can neutralize fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and even incoming anti-ship cruise missiles. Its versatility extends to defeating ballistic missiles during their terminal phase, providing an extra layer of protection against emerging missile threats.

Additionally, the SM-6 can function as a high-speed anti-ship missile, offering the US military a potent weapon capable of disabling enemy vessels in naval confrontations.