Troops to train on US missile system
THE Philippines and the US Army will focus on the usage of the payload delivery system of the Typhon mid-range capability (MRC) missile when both countries resume drills next month, Philippine Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a briefing Tuesday. He said the Army Artillery Regiment and US Army Pacific (Usarpac) will highlight Typhon's payload system during the Philippine Army's combined arms training exercise scheduled in February. A payload delivery system is a device that transports and releases a payload, such as a package or other item. Payload delivery systems can be used by drones, robots, or rockets. Dema-ala said the second iteration would build on what the Army Artillery Regiment learned in the first round of expert exchanges. Dema-ala said the training would be conducted sometime in the third week of February. The Typhon missile system arrived in the country in April 2024 and was last known to be stationed somewhere in Ilocos Norte, a coastal province facing Taiwan. China has opposed the presence of the missile system in the country, but the Department of National Defense has refused Chinese demands to remove it. Dema-ala did not specify the current location of the missiles. AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. even defended the presence of the Typhon missiles and said he hoped the country would acquire them soon. "While the MRC is here, we will maximize its utilization to train our personnel in this kind of new technology," Dema-ala said. The deployment of the Typhon missile in the country comes amid mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea due to Manila's and Beijing's overlapping claims. Beijing's actions are based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, or the western section of the country inside its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Also on Wednesday, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said that it sees more high-level interactions with the US Pacific Air Force (Pacaf). This came as Pacaf commander Gen. Kevin Schneider paid a visit to PAF chief Arthur Cordura at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, on Tuesday, Air Force spokesman Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement. "During the visit, Gen. Schneider and Lt. Gen. Cordura engaged in discussions on bolstering interoperability between the two air forces and excellence in combined operations," she added. Castillo also said the two Air Force commanders, in their meeting, also emphasized the importance of joint exercises and training programs in enhancing the operational capabilities of both forces. "The high-level meeting further addressed key areas, including information sharing, airman-to-airman talks, and routine maritime cooperative activities," she added. Cordura and Schneider also discussed ongoing projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which aim to facilitate cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, strengthen the country's defense capabilities and promote regional security.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Philippines and the US Army will focus on the usage of the payload delivery system of the Typhon mid-range capability (MRC) missile when both countries resume drills next month, Philippine Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said in a briefing Tuesday.
He said the Army Artillery Regiment and US Army Pacific (Usarpac) will highlight Typhon's payload system during the Philippine Army's combined arms training exercise scheduled in February.
A payload delivery system is a device that transports and releases a payload, such as a package or other item. Payload delivery systems can be used by drones, robots, or rockets.
Dema-ala said the second iteration would build on what the Army Artillery Regiment learned in the first round of expert exchanges.
Dema-ala said the training would be conducted sometime in the third week of February.
The Typhon missile system arrived in the country in April 2024 and was last known to be stationed somewhere in Ilocos Norte, a coastal province facing Taiwan.
China has opposed the presence of the missile system in the country, but the Department of National Defense has refused Chinese demands to remove it.
Dema-ala did not specify the current location of the missiles.
AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. even defended the presence of the Typhon missiles and said he hoped the country would acquire them soon.
"While the MRC is here, we will maximize its utilization to train our personnel in this kind of new technology," Dema-ala said.
The deployment of the Typhon missile in the country comes amid mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea due to Manila's and Beijing's overlapping claims.
Beijing's actions are based on its assertion of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, or the western section of the country inside its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Also on Wednesday, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said that it sees more high-level interactions with the US Pacific Air Force (Pacaf).
This came as Pacaf commander Gen. Kevin Schneider paid a visit to PAF chief Arthur Cordura at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, on Tuesday, Air Force spokesman Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement.
"During the visit, Gen. Schneider and Lt. Gen. Cordura engaged in discussions on bolstering interoperability between the two air forces and excellence in combined operations," she added.
Castillo also said the two Air Force commanders, in their meeting, also emphasized the importance of joint exercises and training programs in enhancing the operational capabilities of both forces.
"The high-level meeting further addressed key areas, including information sharing, airman-to-airman talks, and routine maritime cooperative activities," she added.
Cordura and Schneider also discussed ongoing projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which aim to facilitate cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, strengthen the country's defense capabilities and promote regional security.
