This is the first time division manoeuvre elements have trained with NMESIS aboard Marine Corps installations on Okinawa. The exercises involved rehearsing operations to secure and defend key maritime terrain while improving system proficiency.
The 12th Medium-Range Missile Battery, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, supported by the 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, focused on launcher survivability and notional fire missions. Training also enabled the 12th Littoral Combat Team to conduct distributed command and control in a contested environment while protecting high-value assets through Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and the establishment of a fires node.
“These training opportunities with the NMESIS validated the effectiveness of our collaborative defensive architecture,” said Capt. Kurt James, the 12th MMSL battery commander. “We refined our ability to coordinate responses to potential threats, reinforcing our commitment to regional security.”
The Division formally received NMESIS on 26 November 2024, with the system arriving in Okinawa on 10 July 2025. NMESIS is a mobile ground-based anti-ship missile system designed for sea denial and littoral protection, providing a long-range and precise island defence capability.
By strengthening the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to protect waterways and project power ashore, the system enhances regional deterrence and interoperability with allies and partners. The 3d Marine Division routinely relocates assets to sustain high operational readiness and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
