A formidable missile launcher able to strike naval targets 115 miles away has been deployed by the US to the Philippines amid the presence of the Chinese navy in nearby waters.
The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) is a mobile, ground-based system that can be used in tough terrain and has been designed especially for maritime warfare operations.
It can be used quickly, meaning it’s hard to counter, and is the linchpin of the US Marines’ effort to gear up for possible conflict in the western Pacific.
The NMESIS took part in military drills involving the US and its three key allies in the Indo-Pacific region: the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan.
The UK is also set to take part in the war games, named Exercise KAMANDAG 9, which is expected to run until June 6.
NMESIS was also used in the recent Balikatan 2025 exercise, an annual bilateral drill led by the US and Philippine Marine Corps since 2016 to strengthen the Asian country’s military capabilities.
KAMANDAG, a Filipino acronym which translates to ‘Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea’, demonstrates the US’s improved ability to deploy systems designed to limit hostel units and follows Taiwan’s claim of further Chinese provocation
The Philippines plays a central role in America’s Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at restricting China’s naval access to the western Pacific.
In recent times, the Chinese navy has been very active in the waters around self-goverened Taiwan, which it does not recognise as seperate country.
Although no live missiles were fired during Balikatan, NMESIS is expected to flex its missile system during Exercise KAMANDAG 9 “if the weather permits,” according to Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN.
Recent videos surfaced showing NMESIS being used by the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment on the strategic islands of Batanes and Babuyan, located close to Taiwan.
These island chains function as a natural chokepoint in the Luzon Strait, a key maritime corridor between the first and second island chains in the western Pacific.
The Philippines, Taiwan and Japan play an integral role in the US’s containment strategy in Asia, forming the First Island Chain which is designed to restrict China’s naval access to the broader Western Pacific Ocean, if needed.
Colonel Jason Armas, commanding officer of the US Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force, said: “Training shoulder to shoulder with our Philippine Marine Corps partners isn’t just about building interoperability—it’s about forging trust in the crucible of shared hardship and preparing together to respond with speed and precision to any crisis, anywhere, anytime.”
Major General Arturo Rojas, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, added: “This year’s KAMANDAG is a testament to the enduring partnership between the Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps. By operating jointly in complex environments, we are strengthening our capability to defend the archipelago and contributing to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.”
