The sun beats down on the small Japanese island as field artillery cannoneers twist wrenches on massive encanistered missile rounds. It's September in Okinawa, and here at Camp Hansen, Marines from the 3rd and 12th Littoral Combat Teams (or LCTs) are knee-deep in gritty reloading drills with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS for short). This is more than just routine maintenance; it symbolizes turning these anti-ship beasts into quick-draw weapons for the next big fight in the Pacific.
The scene captures the essence of how the Marine Corps is evolving its littoral warfare capabilities. The 3rd LCT, part of Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (or MLR), teamed up with Okinawa's 12th LCT from the 12th MLR (both under the 3rd Marine Division). Using forklifts and stacking frames, they practiced swapping out training rounds on the NMESIS launcher, honing the speed needed to rearm in remote, contested spots. The speed drills build confidence so that in combat the systems stay lethal without skipping a beat, providing sea denial that could keep adversaries at bay.
What is NMESIS?
NMESIS itself is a game-changer: a mobile, ground-based launcher packing two stealthy Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles with a punch out to 115 miles. It's designed for island-hopping operations, slipping into hidden positions to hammer enemy ships. The systems first arrived in Japan on July 10th, marking their debut in the region, and this training was the first hands-on session there. Marines from the 12th Medium-Range Missile (MMSL) Battery led the charge, focusing on launcher survival and mock fire missions during an Expeditionary Advanced Base exercise at the Central Training Area in Okinawa.
"These training opportunities with the NMESIS validated the effectiveness of our collaborative defensive architecture," said Capt. Kurt James, commander of the 12th MMSL Battery. "We refined our ability to coordinate responses to potential threats, reinforcing our commitment to regional security."
This isn't the 3rd MLR's first rodeo with NMESIS. Back in November 2024, they took delivery of the system, integrating it into their infantry battalion for anti-ship strikes. The following spring, during Balikatan 25 in the Philippines, they deployed it to Batanes for joint ops, practicing rapid insertions via KC-130Js. Then in May's KAMANDAG 9, the 3rd LCT ran simulated maritime strikes, coordinating with U.S. Army multi-domain task forces and Philippine Marines. Using radar like the AN/TPS-80 and tactical data links, they built a shared picture of the battlespace, feeding targets to NMESIS without firing a live round.
The 12th MLR, forward-based in Okinawa, brings its own unique angle to the venture. Being forward deployed in the first island chain, they're on the front lines of Indo-Pacific deterrence. This joint drill with the 3rd underscores how the Corps is synchronizing its littoral units together, enhancing tactics for distributed operations where small teams hold key terrain against bigger foes.
Why It Matters
In a world of great-power competition, NMESIS gives Marines the edge to disrupt sea lanes from ashore. It is core to the philosophy of Force Design 2030; turning regiments into nimble, missile-slinging outfits ready for peer threats. With Resolute Dragon 25 executing this month, a bilateral training opportunity with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, expect more NMESIS action, blending with Army and ally missiles for layered defense.
The message is clear: These Marines aren't just training. They're building the muscle memory to dominate the littorals, one reload at a time.
