The NMESIS anti-ship missile system was meant to address the need for a mobile, land-based missile platform capable of striking enemy ships in littoral zones.
China is having more difficulty than Beijing had previously thought with the Trump administration’s trade war. No one really knows what will happen when all this is over. But, for the time being, it appears that China has taken serious economic damage as a result of Trump’s trade policies.
As this occurs, political instability in Beijing risks undermining President Xi Jinping vise-like grip on power. It is possible that Xi will attempt to distract his people from their declining fortunes at home by triggering a conflict with China’s neighbors.
That’s where the United States Marine Corps is coming into the fray. To dissuade Xi from his temptation to attack Taiwan in order to rally support at home, the USMC is moving the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) system, armed with Naval Strike Missiles, to the Luzon Strait—a strip of water, roughly 220 miles at its narrowest point, separating the southern tip of Taiwan from the northernmost islands of the Philippines.
Understanding the Deployment of the NMESIS Missile System
This recent deployment will be the closest that U.S. missiles have ever been to China’s mainland. It is a deterrent action by Washington, which is responding to recent bellicose statements from Beijing, concerns that Beijing could attack under pressure from the trade war, and years of aggressive actions by China in the South China Sea. Since 2009, China has been steadily building its military presence up in that vital region, violating international law and antagonizing their neighbors in the process.
If China decided to attack Taiwan, they would need to assert control over key parts of the South China Sea in order to keep American ships far from the action. Warships maneuvering toward the southern tip of Taiwan from the South China Sea approach would necessarily pass through the Luzon Strait.
The presence of the NMESIS platform overlooking that strait would severely complicate the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) freedom of movement—and their ability to effectively form a total blockade around besieged democratic Taiwan.
The development of the NMESIS began in the late 2010s as part of the USMC’s broader effort to modernize its anti-surface warfare capabilities under Force Design 2030, a strategic overhaul aimed at preparing the Corps for great power competition—particularly against near-peer rivals, like China.
This system was meant to address the need for a mobile, land-based missile platform capable of striking enemy ships in littoral zones. Such a capability is especially important in an age where enemy anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) is so significant. The presence of China’s A2/AD grid in the Indo-Pacific makes it difficult for the U.S. to deploy traditional naval assets against a Chinese attack on Taiwan. This means that something less conventional is needed.
About the NMESIS Platform
NMESIS integrates two proven technologies: the aforementioned Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Raytheon and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, and the Remotely Operated Ground United for Expeditionary (ROGUE) Fires vehicle, a remotely operated platform that enhances survivability by minimizing personnel exposure to the enemy.
This system is built upon a JLTV chassis, making it highly mobile. Each NMESIS unit carries two NSM containers, and its fire control system is operated by a Marine, ensuring human oversight despite the system’s autonomous mobility features.
In typical Marine Corps fashion, the development phase of NMESIS was completed at lightning speed—in just under four years. It involved the close coordination of the USMC, Raytheon, Oshkosh Defense, and other industry partners. The system’s successful tests, including a direct hit on a sea target off California in April 2021 and a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) in Hawaii in August 2021, underscored reliability and precision, paving the way for its fielding to Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs).
This system may prove to be a key reason for why China cannot hit Taiwan as they currently plan. By bottling up the Luzon Strait, the Marines will create a chokepoint that will be difficult for China to overcome. The NMESIS is a great first step toward restoring deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Let us hope, however, that deploying this system is not the end of America’s restoration of deterrence in the region. If it is, the advantages NMESIS provides will be short-lived.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Department of Defense.
