Pentagon withdraws Typhon launchers from Japan following Russia–China pressure

The United States has removed its ground-based Typhon mobile missile launchers from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan, ending a deployment that had sparked objections from both Russia and China.

The launchers are capable of firing medium-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 multipurpose missiles, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The systems were initially transported to Japan for Resolute Dragon, a major joint US–Japan military exercise held in September. Although their withdrawal was expected shortly after the drills concluded on September 25, the launchers remained at the base for more than six weeks, raising concerns among local civic groups.

A coalition of activists from Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures sent a letter to Japan’s Ministry of Defene on November 10, urging the government to ensure the Typhon systems were removed from Japanese territory without further delay.

On November 17, the Defence Ministry notified the Iwakuni city administration that the postponed withdrawal had been completed. The ministry did not disclose the reason for the delay.

The Typhon system is a mobile ground-launched platform designed to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles with an approximate range of 2,000 kilometres, as well as SM-6 missiles capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometers away. The system was developed for deployment across the Indo-Pacific region.

Resolute Dragon, held from September 11–25 across Japan — including Hokkaido — involved approximately 19,000 U.S. and Japanese personnel. Although this marked the first time American launchers had been stationed on Japanese soil, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces emphasized ahead of the drills that no live missile launches would be conducted.

The prolonged presence of the Typhon battery drew sharp reactions from Moscow. In late October, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had raised concerns with the Japanese Embassy in Moscow and warned that Russia “reserves the right to take necessary compensatory measures to ensure an adequate level of its security.”

Beijing also voiced alarm. China’s Foreign Ministry urged Washington and Tokyo to “immediately remove” the launchers from Japanese islands.

By Vafa Guliyeva