3 days Ago By Bea Cupin
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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the United States on Monday, April 28 released photos and videos of soldiers transporting the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to test their “ability to position the system” in the northern Philippines. The system was deployed to the Philippines for the first time for execise Balikatan 2025, the yearly war games between the two allies.
The hauling and offloading of the NMESIS through a C-130 aircraft was done on April 26. According to the joint information bureau for Balikatan 2025, NMESIS is “a land-based missile system designed to target and deter hostile naval forces, enhances maritime domain awareness and strengthens the defensive posture of the Philippines and the United States in securing key maritime areas.”“The NMESIS provides the combined and joint force a flexible and expedient sea denial capacity, contributing to the collective defense of both countries,” the two militaries said.
US Marines haul the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) off to a US C-130 aircraft during Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations – North, part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on 26 April 2025.The Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) arrives safely at the airport during Balikatan 40-2025.Positioned and mission-ready, the NMESIS supports joint maritime defense objectives for Balikatan 2025.
US Marines haul the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) off a C-130 aircraft during Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations – North, part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on 26 April 2025.Neither military disclosed where the NMESIS had been deployed but Cagayan and Batanes are among the provinces that are part of the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO) – North events. The two provinces are the northernmost of the Philippines.
They both face Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, a flashpoint for tensions in the region.Balikatan 2025 is the most complicated and integrated between the two countries and other like-minded countries yet. The yearly exercise — designed to be a full-scale battle scenario for the two militaries — began in late April and will wrap up by early May 2025.
– Rappler.com.
