US deploys NMESIS in Philippines
A NMESIS launcher deployed into position for live fire as a part of ‘Large-Scale Exercise' 2021 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Hawaii. (US Marine Corps)
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) has deployed the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) for the first time in the Philippines. The deployment is in support of the 40th iteration of US-Philippines bilateral exercise ‘Balikatan 2025', conducted from 21 April to 9 May.
US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) said on 17 April that the USMC's 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) deployed the system in Balikatan's Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations in North Luzon and the Batanes islands.
“During this event, US Marines with [the] 3rd Littoral Combat Team's Medium-Range Missile Battery and [the] Philippine marines with [the] 4th Marine Brigade will use airlift from the US Army's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and the US Air Force's 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron to transport several NMESIS launchers from Northern Luzon to multiple islands in the Batanes island chain,” USINDOPACOM said.
According to USINDOPACOM, the US and Philippine marines will jointly establish a Fires Expeditionary Advanced Base once NMESIS arrives at the Batanes islands in the Luzon Strait, close to Taiwan. NMESIS will not be fired during the ‘Balikatan' exercise, but simulated fire missions will be conducted, USINDOPACOM added.
USINDOPACOM said, “NMESIS provides 3rd MLR with enhanced sea-denial capability, deepens naval integration, and strengthens deterrence by extending the joint force's ability to target and engage from both land and sea.”
However, it is unclear if the NMESIS deployment is permanent or only part of the ‘Balikatan' exercise.
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