U.S. Marines upgrade to new anti-ship missiles and air defense systems to enhance Okinawa combat capabilities

The U.S. Marine Corps tests the NMESIS anti-ship missile system. The picture shows the moment the "Naval Strike Missile" (NSM) takes off from an unmanned launch vehicle. (Picture taken from the US military DIVDS website)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment of the U.S. Marine Corps deployed in Okinawa, Japan, recently officially received a new generation of anti-ship missiles and mobile air defense systems. In the future, the US military will not only be able to attack maritime warships from land, but also intercept low-altitude drones and helicopters, further improving the anti-ship and air defense capabilities of the troops stationed in Okinawa.

The U.S. Marine Corps Integrated Air Defense System (MADIS) locks on an air target during a training exercise. This system has been officially assigned to the 12th Okinawa Coastal Combat Regiment and is responsible for intercepting drones and other low-altitude threats. (AFP file photo)

According to a report by Defense Industry Europe on the 22nd, this replacement plan is an important part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ “Force Design” reform. Among them, the most high-profile "Navy/Marine Expeditionary Fleet Denial System" (NMESIS) integrates the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) into the unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) platform, which can launch missiles from land through remote control to attack surface ships about 185 kilometers away.

Compared with the traditional reliance on warships to perform anti-ship missions, NMESIS allows the Marine Corps to launch attacks directly from islands or coastal positions, improving dispersed deployment and survivability, and also allowing small forces to have stronger sea denial capabilities.

The air defense system is synchronized in place to specifically intercept low-altitude threats.

Another set of simultaneously assigned "Marine Corps Integrated Air Defense System" (MADIS) is a new generation mobile air defense system of the US military. The system consists of two light tactical vehicles, one of which is responsible for carrying radar, electronic warfare jamming equipment and command systems, while the other is equipped with Stinger missiles and a 30mm cannon to form a complete mobile air defense network.

The report pointed out that the main mission of MADIS is to detect, interfere with and intercept low-altitude drones, and can also deal with threats from helicopters and low-altitude aircraft. As the importance of drones in modern battlefields increases rapidly, this system is regarded as an important piece of equipment for the Marine Corps to enhance its short-range air defense capabilities.

Colonel Peter Eltringham, commander of the 12th Littoral Combat Regiment, said that with the addition of new equipment, the unit has more complete anti-ship and air defense capabilities. NMESIS and MADIS have participated in training exercises in the Philippines and other places in the past, and are now officially incorporated into the Okinawa military establishment, becoming an important organic combat capability of the US military stationed in the first island chain.