U.S. Marines to Field 261 NMESIS Anti-Ship Missile Launchers by 2030 to Strengthen Naval Defense.

According to information published by Defense News on April 29, 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps plans to field a total of 261 Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) launchers by the year 2030. Nick Pierce, product manager for NMESIS at Marine Corps Systems Command confirmed this ambitious procurement plan. It reflects the Marine Corps’ strategic initiative to significantly enhance its maritime interdiction and sea-denial capabilities amid rising global tensions, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
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U.S. Marines from the Program Manager Long Range Fires (PM LRF) New Equipment Training Team (NETT) guide two Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) launchers toward a C-17 Globemaster III loading zone at Travis Air Force Base, California, on September 25, 2023. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The NMESIS (Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) program is a centerpiece of the U.S. Marine Corps' modernization effort under the Force Design 2030 initiative, which was officially launched on March 23, 2020. Initially named “Force Design 2030,” and now simply referred to as “Force Design,” then-Commandant General David Berger introduced this major ten-year force restructuring concept. The initiative seeks to transform the Marine Corps into a lighter, more agile, and more technologically advanced force optimized for naval expeditionary warfare and distributed operations across contested maritime zones.

As part of this redesign, the Marine Corps plans to establish at least three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs), each structured, trained, and equipped for missions in heavily contested maritime environments. A key component of these MLRs is the Littoral Combat Team, which includes an infantry battalion and an NMESIS anti-ship missile battery. These units are intended to form the core of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO)—forward-deployed, platoon-sized sites designed for sea denial, surveillance, and strike operations in littoral zones.

NMESIS itself consists of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM)—a subsonic, sea-skimming missile with a range of over 100 nautical miles—mounted on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) chassis, which is adapted into an unmanned launcher system called ROGUE-Fires (Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires). The system can operate both autonomously and by remote control, increasing survivability and deployment flexibility.

Reportedly, a standard NMESIS battery will include 18 launchers, divided into two platoons of nine launchers each. The Marine Corps plans to field a total of 14 such batteries by 2030—three of which will be deployed with MLRs in the Pacific region, and the remaining 11 stationed in the continental United States to support rotational Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments.

The initial delivery of NMESIS occurred on November 26, 2024, when the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (3rd MLR) officially received its first fire units during a ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. These launchers are assigned to the regiment’s Medium-Range Missile Battery stationed in Oahu. The Marine Corps has indicated that Initial Operating Capability (IOC) will be declared in 2025 once four batteries are fully equipped, with Full Operational Capability (FOC) expected after all 14 batteries are fielded by 2030.

The first operational deployment of NMESIS took place during Exercise Balikatan 2025 in the Philippines. On April 26, 2025, NMESIS launchers from the 3rd MLR were deployed to Basco, Batanes, near the Luzon Strait and close to Taiwan. This deployment marked the first time a U.S. anti-ship missile system had been stationed on Philippine territory, highlighting the system's strategic importance. It also served as a clear message of deterrence amid growing regional tensions and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to its Indo-Pacific allies.

The deployment of NMESIS and the broader Force Design plan aim to create a distributed, survivable, and lethal strike network across key maritime chokepoints such as the First Island Chain. This approach allows the Marine Corps to rapidly position precision-strike capabilities in contested areas, effectively deterring adversarial naval actions and reinforcing allied defensive structures.

The NMESIS anti-ship missile system and its integration into the new force structure represent a foundational shift in Marine Corps doctrine and capability. By 2030, the Corps aims to field 261 NMESIS launchers across 14 batteries, including forward-deployed units within MLRs. This initiative ensures the Marine Corps is prepared to face evolving maritime threats and maintain control over critical sea lanes in the 21st century’s most volatile regions.