Overview
- The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment on Okinawa received NMESIS and MADIS in June 2026, completing the regiment’s planned combat weapons fielding and making it a fully equipped stand-in littoral force.
- NMESIS places Naval Strike Missiles on unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to fire sea-skimming anti-ship missiles at about 185 kilometers, enabling dispersed ground launches that can threaten ships across major shipping lanes.
- MADIS mounts counter-drone sensors, electronic-warfare gear, a 30 mm cannon and Stinger missiles on JLTVs to protect launchers and nearby units from small drones and low-flying aircraft.
- Both systems were tested in operations and exercises before the Okinawa fielding, including deployments by the 3rd MLR in late 2024 and use in Balikatan and Resolute Dragon drills to prove mobility, sustainment and allied integration.
- The fielding advances the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 aim of small, mobile units for distributed sea-denial and sets the stage for wider MADIS buys through 2035 while changing how Marines and regional partners move and defend assets in the first island chain.