PH Navy defends deployment of US missile system in Kamandag 2025

Naval officers on their watch on the bridge of the BRP Davao Del Sur as it sails the West Philippine Sea on May 18, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A Philippine Navy official on Tuesday emphasized that the deployment of the United States’ Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) in another military exercise between Filipino and American troops was not aimed at a specific country or threat.

US Marines’ anti-ship missile system to be used in Kamandag 2025

“Its objective is for us to be able to conduct joint operations or combined operations with other Marine Corps or other nations. It is not aimed towards specific threats or specific issues that are currently happening adjacent to where it is going to be fired,” Navy spokesperson Cpt. John Percie Alcos said in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the US Marine Corps (USMC) on Monday officially opened this year’s iteration of the Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat or Kamandag. 

PMC commandant Maj. Gen. Arturo Rojas said the NMESIS will be used in the live fire exercises in Northern Luzon “if the weather permits.”

“We will be using the NMESIS also to be able to learn and sustain what we did in the past Balikatans. The event (live fire), which is included in Kamandag, will be conducted also,” Rojas told reporters during the opening ceremony in Taguig City.

US anti-ship missile NMESIS in Philippines for Balikatan 2025

The NMESIS is a high mobile coastal anti-ship missile with the ability to strike hostile surface vessels from land-based positions. 

Alcos said that while the live-fire event involving the NMESIS has been calendared, the decision whether or not it will be fired will depend on “the actual situation or criteria that will be met” on the day of the maritime strike demonstration.

“But the objective is to be able to maximize these particular training activities,” Alcos noted. 

“As we have mentioned before, we have already submitted to higher headquarters and to the Department of National Defense the list of essential or critical capabilities that the Navy or the AFP intends to have, and this is one of the capabilities that we intend to have.” 

'WALANG PAKIALAM'

China has opposed the deployment of the NMESIS and the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system in the country.

Since last year, Beijing has repeatedly demanded Manila to return the Typhon to Washington due to what it said are threats it poses to regional security.

But Alcos, echoing Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, asserted that no other country can dictate how the Philippines decides on deployments in terms of its defenses. 

Deterrence not solely about weapon systems: PH Navy official

“Walang pakialam kahit sinong bansa when it comes to the deployment of assets whether it is our own or if it belongs to our allies. So, we will continue to deploy and train with our allies in the objective of enhancing combined operations or to be able to do cooperation with them in the future,” he said.

A total of 4,252 troops will be participating in Kamandag, including 2,028 from the Philippines and 2,031 from the US. 

Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom will also be taking part in the exercises with the following number of personnel:

• 80 from the Republic of Korea Marine Corps

• 107 from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

• 6 from the British Armed Forces 

Nine countries will likewise send international observers: France, The Netherlands, Bahrain, Australia, Thailand, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and Indonesia.

“We anticipate the participation of other observers or interlopers, but we're focused on the training opportunities that we can do and maximize whatever objectives that we can meet for Kamandag,” Alcos said, referring to China.

'Shared adversity', new weapons as Philippine, US forces launch 'Balikatan'

Among Kamandag’s training objectives is to strengthen the interoperability between the two countries and to continue collaborative efforts in ensuring regional peace and security in a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

The drills, set from May 26 to June 6, will be held in the areas of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Batanes, Palawan and Tawi-Tawi. 

The exercises include command and control exercises, MKTSO, maritime strike, counter-landing or defensive retrograde operations, coastal defense, live fire integration, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), and various subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs).

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