As part of the forces the U.S. Army deployed to Japan for the Resolute Dragon 2025 exercises, it has been announced that the modern Typhon missile system is now in place, marking the first time it will operate from Japanese territory. Specifically, it is an advanced land-based launcher capable of deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of about 1,600 kilometers, putting potential targets on the east coast of China and Russia within reach—two countries to which the deployment seeks to send a deterrence message and which have previously voiced concerns about it.
In this way, the Typhon system deployed by the U.S. Army will be integrated with more than 20,000 American and Japanese troops, along with a group of warships and coastal batteries. According to the U.S. Army, the intent is to further demonstrate the launcher’s capabilities, as it has done during Salaknib exercises in the Philippines in 2024, after which Manila hinted at its interest in acquiring it for its own Armed Forces. Another precedent was seen earlier this year during the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise, hosted by Australia.
Colonel Wade Germann, commander of the unit operating the Typhon systems, commented on the matter: “By employing multiple systems and different types of munitions, it is capable of creating dilemmas for the enemy. The speed with which it can be deployed allows us to position it promptly when needed.” He also confirmed that once Resolute Dragon 2025 concludes, the system will be withdrawn from Japan, though he did not provide further details on its next destination.
It should also be noted that the system is currently located on the island of Iwakuni, which forms part of the so-called First Island Chain in the Indo-Pacific. This geographic region plays a key role in the U.S. containment strategy against China’s growing military power, stretching from islands south of Japan to the Philippines, while a Second Chain extends further east, from Japan toward Indonesia. In recent months, China has managed to send significant naval forces beyond these limits, raising tensions with the U.S. and its regional allies.
In that sense, the frequent deployments of the Typhon system to bases in the region aim to serve as a countermeasure, given that it would be a key element of U.S. and allied coastal defense in the event of conflict—especially considering the launchers are compatible with SM-6 anti-ship missiles capable of striking naval targets up to 200 kilometers away. As this system sees increased participation, the U.S. Army is also working on the development of its future Dark Eagle system, which will add a hypersonic component to the defense network deployed in the region.
Finally, regarding the Resolute Dragon 2025 exercise itself, it is a bilateral drill involving the U.S. Army and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, with the main objective of enhancing interoperability in multi-domain operations. Furthermore, the selection of Iwakuni Air Station for the Typhon deployment also reveals that the U.S. Marine Corps is involved, as it maintains a contingent of F-35 stealth fighters stationed there.
Cover image: Sergeant Perla Alfaro
You may also like: A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor conducted the longest-recorded launch of an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile
