The U.S. Marine Corps is taking a major modernization step in preparation for potential conflict scenarios in the Pacific. The first batch of nearly four dozen mobile launch and missile platforms, critical to the Marine Corps and its island-spanning warfighting doctrine, will join the inventory in the coming period.
This new capability is called the Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). The system includes a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) integrated into the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) platform with semi-autonomous and autonomous remote launch capabilities.
NMESIS will provide Navy and allied ships with littoral protection while providing joint forces with tactical flexibility by providing combined land and sea targeting options. It is the first modern anti-ship missile to enter the U.S. Marine Corps inventory.
The first six systems were delivered to the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (3rd MLR) last November, Nick Pierce, NMESIS product manager at Marine Corps Systems Command, told Marine Corps Times ahead of the Modern Day Marine show.
3rd Marine Coastal Regiment: Pioneer of New Doctrine
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“The third MLR has an enhanced sea-denial capability and is at the forefront of strategic transformation,” Lt. Col. Timothy Love, commander of the Marine Corps Coast Guard, said during the November delivery.
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The MLR is the first in a new Marine Corps coastal regiment concept, combining a smaller infantry battalion, improved radar and sensors, and a variety of force and reconnaissance elements to support joint commanders. The Hawaii-based unit was established in 2021. Since then, the service has deployed the 12th MLR in Okinawa, Japan, and is planning a third rotation regiment in Guam.
Nick Pierce said six more NMESIS systems will be deployed to the 2026th MLR for use in those regiments beginning in March 12. An NMESIS system will also be deployed to the Marine Corps Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for training Marine Corps personnel.
Block 0 to Block I: Increase in Skills
- The first NMESIS systems shipped to the MLR are considered “block 0.” However, starting next year, they will be replaced by six upgraded “block I” versions with more advanced capabilities.
The Block I version will eliminate the “rotating chair fires” method, where Marine Corps personnel manually transmit data, and instead feature a digital fire control system for faster, more accurate hits.
Nick Pierce stated that the Marine Corps plans to have a total of 2033 NMESIS systems in its inventory by 261.
ROGUE Fires: Multi-Launch Ability
Osh Kosh Defense introduced its new multiple rocket launch system, called Remotely Operated Ground Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE Fires), which also incorporates NMESIS, as another option for the Marine Corps and possibly the Army at the Association of the U.S. Army Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, in March.
This unified system is based on the remote-controlled JLTV and integrates a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) into the frame, giving users a mobile missile system in a single package. The concept perfectly aligns with the Marine Corps’ stated role: island-hopping ahead of U.S. Navy ships and neutralizing enemy ships and targets.
NMESIS and the potential ROGUE Fires procurement are a key part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ strategic transformation for potential conflict scenarios in the Pacific. These mobile and autonomous capabilities will provide significant advantages to the Marine Corps in operating in dispersed islands and providing an effective deterrent against hostile naval forces.
