Latest news with #Navy-MarineExpeditionaryShipInterdictionSystem
Newsweek
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pacific Ally to Host US Missile System Amid China Naval Threat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States missile system capable of sinking warships will reportedly be deployed on a Japanese island during a planned joint war game amid a growing naval threat from China. "Specific details concerning equipment and training locations will be announced by Japan's Ministry of Defense closer to the beginning of the exercise," the III Marine Expeditionary Force—a U.S. Marine Corps unit based in Japan—said in a written response to Newsweek. Newsweek has also contacted the Chinese and Japanese defense ministries via email for comment. Why It Matters Japan is part of a U.S. maritime containment strategy known as the First Island Chain—alongside Taiwan and the Philippines—which aims to limit the operating range of China's navy—the world's largest by hull count—within East Asian waters in the event of a conflict. China continues to expand its military presence beyond the First Island Chain by gradually increasing the scale of its warship deployments in the wider Western Pacific, including the simultaneous operation of two aircraft carriers on the eastern side of the island chain in June. In response, the U.S. is strengthening its defense posture along the island chain. This year, the Philippines has already hosted two American anti-ship missile systems—the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System as a part of an exercise on the Philippines' Batanes Islands on May 25. The United States Marine Corps stages the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System as a part of an exercise on the Philippines' Batanes Islands on May 25. Cpl. Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps What To Know Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported on Saturday that the country's Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military will conduct the exercise "Resolute Dragon" across the Japanese archipelago next month, including Okinawa Prefecture and the main island of Kyushu. Okinawa Prefecture, located in Japan's southwestern waters between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea, is made up of several outlying island groups. Meanwhile, Kyushu—situated north of Okinawa—is the southernmost of the country's four main islands in Northeast Asia. According to the report, the war game—planned for September 11 to 25—will test the allies' ability to defend Japan's remote islands, including the potential deployment of the NMESIS on Ishigaki Island, which is part of the Sakishima island group in Okinawa Prefecture. The NMESIS is a missile system mounted on an unmanned vehicle, capable of carrying up to two Naval Strike Missiles with a range of over 115 miles. The report further noted that no live-fire drills will take place during the deployment of the NMESIS on the Japanese island. "Specific details on equipment, locations, and timing during Resolute Dragon have not been finalized," the III Marine Expeditionary Force told Newsweek on Monday. The previous iteration of the bilateral exercise was held from July 28 to August 7, 2024, across Japan. The Japanese military frequently tracks and reports on China's naval activities near Okinawa Prefecture, as Chinese vessels transit the Miyako Strait—which lies between Miyako Island and Okinawa Island—a major gateway for deployments beyond the First Island Chain. On Saturday, a pair of Chinese warships—a destroyer and a frigate—were spotted passing through the Miyako Strait on a southeastward voyage, moving from the East China Sea to the Philippine Sea, the Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry reported on Monday. What People Are Saying The U.S. III Marine Expeditionary Force told Newsweek on Monday: "The U.S. Marine Corps remains in close coordination and planning with the Government of Japan to ensure all activities and training are conducted safely and remain committed to transparency with local communities, the Government of Japan, and our Allies and partners." Japan's defense white paper 2025 read: "China has been swiftly increasing its national defense expenditures, thereby extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in a qualitative and quantitative manner and intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands, and the Pacific." The Senkaku Islands are an islet group in the East China Sea, ruled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan as the Diaoyu Islands and the Diaoyutai Islands, respectively. What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the U.S. military will deploy other missile systems in Japan to bolster the ally's defense, including the MRC and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), which were featured in a war game that took place in Australia last month.
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
No NMESIS missiles fired during Balikatan 2025
The United States Pacific Fleet on Thursday clarified that there was no Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) that was test-fired during the annual joint military drills between Manila and Washington last April. A spokesperson for the US Pacific Fleet refuted an earlier statement by US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler that such a missile system was fired in the Balikatan exercises. 'During the closing remarks of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, Philippines, July 10, US Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander, US Pacific Fleet, misspoke when he stated in his speech that the United States test-fired the NMESIS during Balikatan. The NMESIS was deployed during Balikatan and took part in battle drills, but no missiles were fired,' the statement from the US Pacific Fleet read. During the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila, Koehler said that NMESIS was used in a test fire during the joint military exercise held in Luzon. But he did not give further details. NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system deployed by the United States Marine Corps' (USMC) Marine Littoral Regiments for coastal defense and maritime security operations. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers. The Philippine Marine Corps and the USMC also trained with NMESIS during the Kamandag Exercise in May. The Philippine Navy has said that the NMESIS will remain in the country for future military drills. NMESIS is the second advanced missile system from the US to be present in Philippine territory. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
NMESIS missiles test-fired in PH during Balikatan 2025
US soldiers check an Avenger Air Defense System during the Balikatan joint military exercises between US and Philippine troops at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez The United States' Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) was used in a test fire in the Philippines during the two countries' Balikatan Exercise, the US Pacific Fleet said Thursday. 'We test-fired NMESIS missiles, operated amphibious vehicles and HIMARS, and trained with unmanned systems, and conducted full battle tests and real-world scenarios,' US Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Stephen Koehler said in his speech during the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Manila. However, the US military official did not give more details about the activity. This year's Balikatan was conducted in different areas in the Philippines from April 21 to May 9 with around 17,000 participants. NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system deployed by the United States Marine Corps' Marine Littoral Regiments for coastal defense and maritime security operations. The Naval Strike Missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers. The missile system was initially deployed to the Philippines in April to be used for Balikatan between US and Filipino forces. NMESIS will remain in the country where it will take part in more exercises, according to the Philippine military. This is the second advanced missile system from the US to be present in Philippine territory. Last March, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also welcomed reports on the second deployment of the US Army's Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system in the country.
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Ally Keeps American Missiles at Choke Point Near China
The Philippines, a mutual defense treaty ally of the United States, said that an American missile system capable of sinking warships will remain in the country for training purposes. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for comment via email. The Chinese defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, is a ground-based launcher equipped with two missiles designed to target enemy ships. It is part of the U.S. Marine Corps' maritime strategy in the Pacific, where China is expanding its naval presence. The American anti-ship missile system was first deployed to the Philippines in late April for Exercise Balikatan 2025 and remained in the country for Exercise KAMANDAG 9 in late May. It participated in the drills from the Philippines' Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait. The waterway located north of the Philippines serves as a key gateway through the First Island Chain for China's naval deployments into the broader Pacific. The island defense line, comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, is designed to keep China's navy in check. Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, said on Tuesday that the NMESIS remains in the country, where it will be used to train the Philippine Marine Corps. He declined to disclose the location of the U.S. missile system, citing operational security. The announcement comes after a pair of Chinese aircraft carriers, the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong,transited near the Philippines for deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Without naming a specific country, the official said that the presence of the NMESIS, capable of striking targets over 115 miles away, serves as a deterrent to those who intend to conduct "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions" against the Philippines. The Philippines has territorial disputes with China over maritime features in the South China Sea, often resulting in confrontations and clashes between their naval forces. Washington has reaffirmed its security commitment to Manila under a 1951 mutual defense treaty. The NMESIS became the second U.S. missile system stationed in the Philippines following joint exercises. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system has remained in the Southeast Asian country "indefinitely" after participating in a drill in April last year. Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, at a press briefing on Tuesday: "The NMESIS will remain here in our country for as long as training opportunities are still there for us, for us to use that particular military equipment so that our Marines can better conduct combined operations with their counterparts." The U.S. Third Marine Division, in a press release in April: "The NMESIS provides [the U.S. Third Marine Littoral Regiment] 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. In the Philippines, the NMESIS will also aid in shaping defensive capabilities in accordance with the [the Armed Forces of the Philippines]'s coastal defense strategy." It remains to be seen whether the Philippines will consider acquiring the NMESIS to counter threats posed by the Chinese navy, the world's largest by hull count. The U.S. has been equipping its Pacific allies and partners with various types of anti-ship missile systems. Related Articles Video Shows Chinese 'Militia' Ship Near US Ally's Disputed TerritoryFootage Shows Chinese Ships Near US Ally's Disputed Island BaseVideo Shows US Ally Confronting China in Contested WatersUS Ally Sends Strong Warning to China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Keeps American Missiles at Choke Point Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Philippines, a mutual defense treaty ally of the United States, said that an American missile system capable of sinking warships will remain in the country for training purposes. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for comment via email. The Chinese defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, is a ground-based launcher equipped with two missiles designed to target enemy ships. It is part of the U.S. Marine Corps' maritime strategy in the Pacific, where China is expanding its naval presence. The American anti-ship missile system was first deployed to the Philippines in late April for Exercise Balikatan 2025 and remained in the country for Exercise KAMANDAG 9 in late May. It participated in the drills from the Philippines' Batanes Islands in the Luzon Strait. The waterway located north of the Philippines serves as a key gateway through the First Island Chain for China's naval deployments into the broader Pacific. The island defense line, comprising Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, is designed to keep China's navy in check. What To Know Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, said on Tuesday that the NMESIS remains in the country, where it will be used to train the Philippine Marine Corps. He declined to disclose the location of the U.S. missile system, citing operational security. The announcement comes after a pair of Chinese aircraft carriers, the CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong, transited near the Philippines for deployments beyond the First Island Chain. Without naming a specific country, the official said that the presence of the NMESIS, capable of striking targets over 115 miles away, serves as a deterrent to those who intend to conduct "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions" against the Philippines. The Philippines has territorial disputes with China over maritime features in the South China Sea, often resulting in confrontations and clashes between their naval forces. Washington has reaffirmed its security commitment to Manila under a 1951 mutual defense treaty. The NMESIS became the second U.S. missile system stationed in the Philippines following joint exercises. A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system has remained in the Southeast Asian country "indefinitely" after participating in a drill in April last year. U.S. Marines operate the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System in the Philippines on May 27, 2025. U.S. Marines operate the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System in the Philippines on May 27, 2025. Cpl. Malia Sparks/U.S. Marine Corps What People Are Saying Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, at a press briefing on Tuesday: "The NMESIS will remain here in our country for as long as training opportunities are still there for us, for us to use that particular military equipment so that our Marines can better conduct combined operations with their counterparts." The U.S. Third Marine Division, in a press release in April: "The NMESIS provides [the U.S. Third Marine Littoral Regiment] 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. In the Philippines, the NMESIS will also aid in shaping defensive capabilities in accordance with the [the Armed Forces of the Philippines]'s coastal defense strategy." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Philippines will consider acquiring the NMESIS to counter threats posed by the Chinese navy, the world's largest by hull count. The U.S. has been equipping its Pacific allies and partners with various types of anti-ship missile systems.
