As part of the assets involved in Exercise KAMANDAG 9, the U.S. Marine Corps has announced that it has redeployed its new NMESIS anti-ship missile system to northern Philippines, aiming to place it within range of the strategic area between the local Luzon region and Taiwan. In particular, the deployment will be carried out by the 3rd Littoral Regiment of the force and is expected to take place in the Batanes Islands, to which the system will be transported using KC-130J aircraft, as was done during the recent Balikatan 25 exercises.
That previous deployment marked the first time the force had deployed its new NMESIS systems in the Philippines, and more importantly, so close to mainland Chinese territory. The Luzon Strait is a key area for regional maritime trade and also a zone of great relevance for any attempt by the Asian Giant to move against Taiwanese territory, which lies just 220 miles from the Philippines at its narrowest point. Therefore, the strong presence of monitoring elements and the U.S. interest in testing its advanced anti-ship missile system in the field is not surprising.
In that sense, Exercise KAMANDAG 9 (translatable as “cooperation of the warriors of the sea”) seeks to prepare U.S. and Philippine units for amphibious operations that will take place in the northern, western, and southern parts of the archipelago, in what will be a simulation of enemy naval attacks with the highest possible degree of realism. In addition, it was reported that Japanese and South Korean forces will also participate in the amphibious activities, specifically entering from the South China Sea toward the province of Palawan.
Aligned with this participation of various regional allies, the U.S. Marine Corps has emphasized that the exercise will serve to enhance interoperability between the participating forces. For example, Philippine naval units will assist in transporting U.S. NMESIS launchers across different parts of the Luzon region, according to 3rd Littoral Regiment spokesperson Lt. Anne Pentaleri. While the specific platforms were not detailed, it is assumed that these will include Balikpapan-class landing ships (formerly part of the Royal Australian Navy) or Bacolod City-class logistics ships (acquired from the U.S.).
Finally, it is worth noting that U.S. participation in Exercise KAMANDAG 9 will not be limited to Marine Corps deployments, as it will also involve artillery units from the U.S. Army. In this regard, the force will also deploy its HIMARS systems, which in the near future may be able to operate with the new PrSM missiles, providing them with strike capabilities comparable to the NSM missiles used by the aforementioned NMESIS. In addition to these defensive capabilities, reports indicate the presence of containers equipped with Mk.41 vertical launch cells at Laoag International Airport, from which Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 missiles could be launched.
*Image credits: Cpl. Malia Sparks
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