Integrating NMESIS Anti-Ship Missile With Army’s New MSV(L) Highlights US Indo-Pacific Strategy.

A U.S. Army photo shows Marines loading a NMESIS anti-ship missile launcher onto the Army’s new MSV(L) vessel in Hawaii. The move highlights America’s push for mobile, land-based firepower to deter China in the Indo-Pacific.

A photo released by the U.S. Army on September 17, 2025, shows a Marine from the 3rd Division guiding a launcher of the NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) onto a Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) (MSV(L)) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Behind what appears to be a routine scene lies a broader development: the U.S. Marine Corps is building a land-based anti-ship capability, consistent with the evolving American military posture in the Indo-Pacific.
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On September 17, 2025, a U.S. Marine from the 3rd Marine Division guided a NMESIS launcher onto a Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. (Picture source: US DoD)

The NMESIS is a relatively recent addition to the Marine Corps arsenal. Built on a modified Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) chassis and remotely operated, it carries two Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace with Raytheon. These subsonic cruise missiles have a range of about 185 km, can fly at low altitude, and feature a low radar signature to reduce detection. They combine inertial navigation, GPS, and infrared terminal guidance, enabling them to strike moving ships with precision while resisting electronic countermeasures. Unlike older systems, the NSM can maneuver in flight and follow unpredictable paths against enemy defenses.

The missile covers a wide range of targets, from large surface combatants to vessels operating in littoral areas. Infrared guidance reduces vulnerability to radar decoys and increases effectiveness in coastal environments. The JLTV’s mobility, combined with remote operation, allows Marines to quickly deploy the launchers from remote areas while limiting risks to crews.

NMESIS operates as part of batteries composed of several launchers, a command vehicle, and a coordination vehicle. This organization supports coordinated strikes and integration into broader naval and joint networks. In line with the concept of distributed maritime operations, each unit can be moved and redeployed across island chains, making it harder for an adversary to detect or neutralize them. Once onshore, the system can establish a denial zone capable of threatening nearby surface vessels.

During the exercise pictured, the MSV(L) was used to transport the launcher. This new type of landing craft, developed by Vigor with support from BMT Designers & Planners, is set to replace the U.S. Army’s older Landing Craft Utility. Designed to move troops, vehicles, and equipment between islands and coastal areas without port facilities, the MSV(L) provides essential logistical flexibility. Northrop Grumman plays a key role in integrating communication, navigation, and cybersecurity systems on board, ensuring interoperability and equipment protection. By enabling the embarkation of NMESIS launchers, it expands the Marines’ operational options.

The tactical rationale is straightforward. U.S. forces aim to rely on smaller, mobile units able to disperse quickly, rather than only on large naval platforms vulnerable to long-range missiles. In a scenario where U.S. surface ships might withdraw under the threat of anti-ship ballistic missiles, NMESIS batteries could continue to exert pressure by maintaining an offensive presence from land. The system complements the Navy’s anti-ship capabilities and contributes to a layered defense approach.

The Indo-Pacific is the primary theater for these developments. The expansion of China’s navy, including new aircraft carriers and modern frigates, is pushing Washington to reinforce its deterrence posture. Beijing has stated its intention to project naval power into the South China Sea and beyond, raising concerns among regional allies. By positioning systems like NMESIS along the first island chain, the United States uses geography to establish arcs of fire that complicate Chinese naval movements. Such deployments also serve a political function by signaling to partners such as Japan and the Philippines that U.S. commitments are backed by concrete military capabilities.

Exercises in Hawaii fit within this approach. Located between the continental United States and the Pacific theater, the islands serve as a testing ground for mobility, interoperability, and logistics of these new assets. The image of a Marine guiding NMESIS onto a landing craft illustrates the gradual implementation of a capability likely to play an increasing role in regional military balances. Rather than expanding its forces in numbers, the Marine Corps is adapting by emphasizing dispersion, mobility, and denial strategies. In an environment where technology, geography, and strategy converge, NMESIS and the MSV(L) reflect the transition toward more flexible forces tailored to contemporary challenges.