U.S. Marines will deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to Balikatan. The ground-based launcher mounts Naval Strike Missiles on uncrewed light tactical vehicles. Described as a “ship killer” designed for sea denial and control, NMESIS has a range of 100 nautical miles.
The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) received the system in November 2024 and is expected to field the capability at Balikatan. NMESIS supports the regiment’s “essential task to attack enemy maritime targets” and enhances integration with joint forces and allies, Col. John Lehane, the 3rd MLR commanding officer, said in a news release.
Speaking alongside Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in late March 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also pledged to deploy uncrewed surface vehicles (USV) for Balikatan.
The U.S. has provided the Philippine Navy with electric Mantas T-12 USVs, with more expected to be delivered as part of a $500 million financing agreement announced in 2024.
The drones support surveillance, search and rescue, mine detection, and electronic warfare missions. Such USVs can launch from shore or ship, carry a 64-kilogram payload and be equipped with sensors and cameras.
Philippine and U.S. special operations forces will rehearse jointly defending the Batanes islands, the strategically important Philippine province between Luzon and Taiwan. Manila’s push to secure its maritime territory comes amid China’s growing aggression, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Beijing illegally claims most of the South China Sea in defiance of a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated the claims.
U.S. Marines also will introduce Littoral Rotational Force-Luzon during Balikatan, U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) News reported. The 3rd MLR’s forward-deployed unit is part of the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 strategy to develop concepts and tactics in the Indo-Pacific. The regiment will participate in coastal defense, maritime domain awareness and air defense training during Balikatan, according to USNI.
The 3rd MLR will continue enhancing tactics, techniques and procedures for expeditionary advanced base and stand-in force operations “as a lightweight, low-signature, maneuverable formation spread across the Luzon area of operations,” U.S. Marine Corps spokesperson 1st Lt. Anne Pentaleri told USNI.
