MRC hits first deployment milestone

Exercise ‘Salaknib 24' is part of US Army Pacific's Operation Pathways experimentation series. MRC arriving in North Luzon, Philippines, in early April. (US Army)

A recent joint exercise in the Philippines marked the US Army's first ever deployment of its Mid-Range Capability (MRC), according to a press release on 15 April.

General Charles Flynn, commanding general of US Army Pacific, announced in October 2023 that MRC would be deployed in the Pacific region in 2024. Charlie battery in the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) was deployed during Exercise ‘Salaknib 24' in North Luzon, Phillippines, in early April, according to an army statement.

MRC – which consists of a battery operations centre, four launchers, prime movers, and modified trailers – arrived in theatre on 7 April in the back of a C-17 Globemaster III airframe and was deployed on 11 April.

This marks a “significant step” for the partnership with the Philippines, said Brigadier General Bernard Harrington, commander general of 1st MDTF. Because of the weapon's flexibility over land and sea – it can launch Standard Missile (SM)-6s and Tomahawks – it gives commanders more options than the army previously had in its arsenal, Brig Gen Harrington told Janes in an interview in March 2024.

For more information on MRC, please seeMid-Range Capability on track for five batteries by 2027 .