The U.S. Marine Corps’ Third Marine Littoral Regiment, based in Hawaii, has officially received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System NMESIS, a new ship-killing missile system.
This system, designed to enhance the U.S. military’s capabilities in the Pacific Ocean theater, consists of two Naval Strike Missiles mounted on a remote-operated, unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
With an effective range of over 100 nautical miles 115 miles, the NMESIS enables rapid, precise strikes against enemy maritime targets, supporting the U.S. Marine Corps’ broader strategy of sea denial and control.
The system marks a key milestone for the Marine Corps as part of its Force Design 2030 initiative, which focuses on optimizing forces for naval and littoral warfare.
The Marine Littoral Regiment, designed for rapid, flexible responses in contested maritime environments, aims to counter China’s growing military presence and safeguard U.S. allies like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.
The NMESIS is a vital part of the regiment’s arsenal, alongside other technologies such as unmanned aerial systems and short-range air defense systems.
As part of broader U.S. defense strategy, the Marine Littoral Regiment is deployed across key Indo-Pacific locations—Hawaii, Okinawa, and Guam—forming a critical defense network in the region against Chinese naval expansion, especially in the context of rising tensions over Taiwan.