By Darryl John Esguerra

LAUNCH READY. The US Marine Corps deploys the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) on Saturday (April 26, 2025) as part of the ongoing Philippines-United States Balikatan Exercise. Positioned and mission-ready, the land-based missile system enhances maritime domain awareness and strengthens the joint defensive posture of the Philippines and the US in securing key maritime areas. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado)

MANILA – The United States (US) has deployed its NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), an anti-ship missile system, during the ongoing Balikatan Exercise in the Philippines.

According to Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Balikatan Exercise Combined Joint Information Bureau, NMESIS was deployed Saturday to test troops’ capability to position the system for the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO) – North events.

NMESIS is a highly mobile, land-based coastal defense weapon designed to engage and neutralize hostile surface vessels. It has an operational range of approximately 180 to 200 nautical miles.

It provides the combined and joint forces with a flexible and expedient sea denial capacity, contributing to the collective defense of both countries.

The annual Philippines-US exercise began on April 21 and will run until May 9.

The two nations were also joined by smaller contingents from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Canada. (With Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)