US Marines to deploy NMESIS and MADIS to Yonaguni for the first time — Defense News
The US Marine Corps will deploy NMESIS ground-based anti-ship systems and MADIS air defense systems to Japan’s Yonaguni Island for the first time during the joint Keen Sword exercise. The island is located about 110 kilometers from Taiwan, Defense News reports.
Exercises on the southwestern islands
Keen Sword is the largest joint US-Japanese exercise, held once every two years. This year’s maneuvers will run from October 19 to 29 and will focus on ground operations to deny an adversary freedom of action at sea and on dispersing US and Japanese forces across Japan’s southwestern islands.
NMESIS is designed to strike ships and, according to the publication, has a range of about 115 miles. MADIS is an air defense system. Both systems arrived in June together with the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, which is based in Okinawa. Units of the regiment were previously deployed to the northern Philippine islands of Batanes and the western province of Laoag during the Balikatan exercise.
US HIMARS systems will also be involved in the maneuvers and will be deployed at Camp Ishigaki, about 80 miles from Yonaguni. A Typhon missile launcher is planned to be transferred to Okinawa in the middle of the month, but there is no information on its use directly during Keen Sword.
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Japanese missile systems
During Keen Sword, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will demonstrate three missile systems. The military will train with the Type-25 ground-to-ship system, previously called the upgraded Type-12, which was deployed on the Nansei Islands at the end of March. The Type-25 has a stated strike range of 1,000 kilometers.
The list also includes Type-88 ground-to-ship missiles and the upgraded Type 03 Chu-SAM Kai medium-range air defense system. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, up to 45,000 Self-Defense Forces personnel will be joined by military personnel from nine countries, including Australia and France.
Position of local authorities
Yonaguni local authorities reported the planned deployment after the Okinawa Defense Bureau submitted the relevant plans on October 1. Island Mayor Tsuneo Uechi told the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper that the island is not ready for large-scale exercises that exceed its capabilities. The local administration opposes the maneuvers and continues negotiations with the defense ministry.
Large equipment will be delivered by sea through Kubura Port. Authorities asked residents not to use roads during the movement of military equipment. V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft will not take part in the exercises this year.
