The Mid-Range Capability Battery belongs to 3rd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment. Its launch was the third firing of a Typhon system within the continental United States, according to the Army.
Typhon is a mobile, ground-launched system designed to operate at ranges between the Army’s shorter-range missiles and long-range hypersonic weapons. Battalion commander Lt. Col. Derek Bartlett said it gives commanders a strike capability that land forces previously sought through the joint force, typically from the Navy.
“We get that range for that combatant commander to give them options and capabilities where they really haven’t had it before from the land force,” Bartlett said. He added that “the Army now has that capability.”
The battery’s training covered operation and maintenance of the new equipment. Bartlett said the soldiers were ready to deploy following the course.
“They’re incredibly good at what they do now,” he said. “I’m very comfortable deploying them forward after these five weeks.”
The battery is one of four Mid-Range Capability batteries created by the Army. Its parent command brings together land, air, sea, space and cyber capabilities to coordinate effects against targets.
“It requires all domains to work in unison for a kinetic strike to happen,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John Hespe, the battalion’s senior enlisted advisor. He said the continued development of field artillery rockets would broaden commanders’ options.
“Rockets in the field artillery community are going to continue to evolve,” Hespe said. “It’s going to provide better options for commanders to choose to fire from land based emplacement in any country at any time.”
The Army activated its first Mid-Range Capability Battery in January 2024. The 3-12 battery was activated in November 2025, with the China Lake firing marking its first Tomahawk launch.
