US and Philippines Conduct 'Balikatan' Exercise, Deploy NMESIS Anti-Ship Missile System in Batanes
The Philippines and the United States demonstrated the NMESIS anti-ship missile system in the Batanes province, about 160 km from Taiwan, as part of their annual 'Balikatan' joint military exercise. The system is remotely operable and highly mobile for attacking surface vessels from land-based positions. The exercise aims to test the feasibility of defense operations in remote locations.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 22:52
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Batanes, Philippines, May 2, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Philippines and the United States are currently conducting their annual "Balikatan" joint military exercise. Today, they demonstrated the NMESIS (Naval/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) anti-ship missile system in the Batanes province, the northernmost part of the Philippines, approximately 160 kilometers from Taiwan.
Reuters reported that NMESIS is a highly mobile coastal anti-ship missile system designed to be launched from land-based positions against surface vessels, with a range of approximately 185 kilometers. This system was also deployed in Batanes during last year's "Balikatan" exercise.
Batanes is located in the Luzon Strait, a strategic corridor that is a frontline in the competition for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region between the United States and China. This time, the NMESIS was transported to Batanes by a U.S. military C-130 transport aircraft and positioned in the capital, Basco.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darren Gibbs stated, "Training in Batanes provides us with an environment different from what we typically operate in, offering a unique opportunity to actually use this system and train within our capabilities."
He added that NMESIS is designed for remote operation, "The purpose is to be completely automated, without the need for a driver or passengers inside. We tell it where to go and arrange what it needs to do."
General Francisco Lorenzo, the Philippine exercise director, told Reuters that deploying U.S. weapons like NMESIS to Batanes is part of the Philippines' efforts to test the feasibility of operations in remote locations.
He said, "This type of training is to test the feasibility of deploying these weapons to those locations when necessary, and to conduct related drills." He also pointed out that one of the objectives of the Balikatan exercise is for the Philippines to practice defending its territory with its allies.
The NMESIS brought to Batanes this time will only be used for deployment rehearsals and simulated support, with no live-fire exercises. Lorenzo stated that the system would be withdrawn from the area after the exercise.
Philippine and U.S. forces also conducted maritime strike training on Itbayat Island, the northernmost point of Batanes, only about 155 kilometers from Taiwan. (Edited by: Chang Cheng-chien) 1150502
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(Central News Agency, Batanes, Philippines, May 2, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Philippines and the United States are currently conducting their annual "Balikatan" joint military exercise. Today, they demonstrated the NMESIS (Naval/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) anti-ship missile system in the Batanes province, the northernmost part of the Philippines, approximately 160 kilometers from Taiwan.
Reuters reported that NMESIS is a highly mobile coastal anti-ship missile system designed to be launched from land-based positions against surface vessels, with a range of approximately 185 kilometers. This system was also deployed in Batanes during last year's "Balikatan" exercise.
Batanes is located in the Luzon Strait, a strategic corridor that is a frontline in the competition for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region between the United States and China. This time, the NMESIS was transported to Batanes by a U.S. military C-130 transport aircraft and positioned in the capital, Basco.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darren Gibbs stated, "Training in Batanes provides us with an environment different from what we typically operate in, offering a unique opportunity to actually use this system and train within our capabilities."
He added that NMESIS is designed for remote operation, "The purpose is to be completely automated, without the need for a driver or passengers inside. We tell it where to go and arrange what it needs to do."
General Francisco Lorenzo, the Philippine exercise director, told Reuters that deploying U.S. weapons like NMESIS to Batanes is part of the Philippines' efforts to test the feasibility of operations in remote locations.
He said, "This type of training is to test the feasibility of deploying these weapons to those locations when necessary, and to conduct related drills." He also pointed out that one of the objectives of the Balikatan exercise is for the Philippines to practice defending its territory with its allies.
The NMESIS brought to Batanes this time will only be used for deployment rehearsals and simulated support, with no live-fire exercises. Lorenzo stated that the system would be withdrawn from the area after the exercise.
Philippine and U.S. forces also conducted maritime strike training on Itbayat Island, the northernmost point of Batanes, only about 155 kilometers from Taiwan. (Edited by: Chang Cheng-chien) 1150502
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" app to stay updated in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.