The 3d Marine Littoral Regiment (3d MLR) has formally accepted the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS). A ceremony was held on Nov. 26 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii to mark the occasion. NMESIS is a truck-mounted, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher. It provides the Marines with a significant boost in their ability to control access to coastal areas and deny the use of the seas to adversaries, a concept known as “sea denial”.
The arrival of NMESIS marks a major step forward for the 3d MLR, which specialises in amphibious and littoral warfare operations. The unit is based in Hawaii but operates throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Lt. Col. Timothy W. Love, Commanding Officer of 3d Littoral Combat Team (3d LCT), said in a statement, “Upon receipt of the NMESIS weapon system, 3d MLR has an enhanced sea denial capability and is positioned at the forefront of strategic transformation. This addition deepens naval integration and strengthens deterrence by providing coverage from coastal positions, extending the Joint Force’s ability to target and engage from both land and sea.”
The fielding of NMESIS represents a shift from the testing and evaluation phase to a fully operational weapon system for 3d MLR. This transition is a crucial milestone for the Marine Corps. Col. John G. Lehane, Commanding Officer of 3d MLR, emphasized this point: “Moving the NMESIS from the category of Initial Test and Operational Evaluation to a fielded weapon system is a significant milestone for 3d MLR. The NMESIS provides this Regiment a potent sea denial capability in support of our mission essential task to ‘Attack Enemy Maritime Targets.’ That capability greatly enhances the Regiment’s ability to support and integrate with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, the Fleet, the Joint Force and our Allies.”
The Medium-Range Missile Battery, part of the 3d LCT infantry battalion, will be responsible for operating the NMESIS. The Fire Support Coordination Center will oversee the integration of the missile battery into broader naval and joint operations within the Indo-Pacific. This integration will be facilitated by the Maritime Dynamic Targeting Process, a system designed to coordinate targeting information and efforts across different forces and domains.
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