US deploys advanced anti-ship missile system in ‘Balikatan’ exercises

DAVAO CITY  (April 27) — The United States has deployed its NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), an advanced anti-ship missile system, during the ongoing Balikatan 2025 exercises in the Philippines.

According to Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado, chief of the Balikatan Exercise Combined Joint Information Bureau, NMESIS was deployed on Saturday as part of drills aimed at testing troop capabilities to position and operate the system during Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations (MKTSO) – North events.

NMESIS is a highly mobile, land-based coastal defense system that engages and neutralizes enemy surface vessels. It boasts an operational range of approximately 180 to 200 nautical miles, allowing forces to control and deny access to critical maritime areas.

Salgado said the deployment enhances combined and joint forces’ flexible sea-denial capabilities, strengthening the Philippines’ and the United States’ collective defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Balikatan Exercise—one of the largest annual military drills between the Philippines and the US—officially opened on April 21 and will continue until May 9. This year’s exercise marks a significant expansion, featuring around 16,000 troops and involving complex joint operations across Luzon, including live-fire drills, amphibious landings, and integrated maritime operations.

The exercises involve American and Filipino forces, as well as smaller contingents from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. This highlights the region’s growing network of defense partnerships amid heightened tensions over the South China Sea.

This year’s Balikatan features historic firsts, such as simulating the defense of strategic maritime chokepoints and the use of high-end weapon systems like the NMESIS, underscoring a shift toward more dynamic, real-world combat scenarios.

The Balikatan drills aim to improve interoperability, combat readiness, and coordination of humanitarian assistance among allied nations.