NMESIS Anti-Ship Missile to be Deployed During Philippines-U.S. Marine Corps Exercise

The US-made Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-ship missile system will be deployed in this year's "Kamandag" exercise between Filipino and US Marine Corps units, the Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday.

 PN spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos said in a media briefing Tuesday that the use of the NMESIS in "Kamandag" is not aimed at any "specific threats" or "specific issues.”

The maritime strike event is scheduled for later this week in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

Alcos said the deployment of the NMESIS aims to maximize Philippine training activities for the platform, according to the PNA news agency

Philippines Navy wants to acquire NMESIS missile

"We have already submitted to higher headquarters a list of essential or critical capabilities that the Navy or the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) intends to have. And this (NMESIS missile) is one of the capabilities that we intend to have," he said.

Asked whether they expect another adverse reaction from China regarding the NMESIS's presence during the "Kamandag" exercises, Alcos said no country has the right to interfere with the Philippines' deployment of military assets.

The NMESIS is described as a highly mobile coastal anti-ship missile that can strike hostile surface vessels from land-based positions. The weapon has a range of about 100 nautical miles.

China apprehends that the NMESIS will be provide the Phillipines Navy with a capability to hit its ships while trying to gain control over waters in islands of the South China Sea near the Philippines.