By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – The US-made Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-ship missile platform will be deployed in this year’s iteration of the “Kamandag” exercises between Filipino and US Marine Corps units, the Philippine Navy (PN) said Tuesday.
“Deployment of the NMESIS, which is part of ‘Kamandag.’ It is focused or its objective is for us to be able to conduct joint operations or combined operations with other Marine Corps or other nations,” PN spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos said in a media briefing.
“Kamandag,” which stands for “Kaagapay ng Mga Mandirigma Mula sa Dagat,” began on May 26 and will run until June 6.
He said the use of the NMESIS in “Kamandag” is not aimed at any “specific threats” or “specific issues.”
“Whether it will be fired or not depends on the actual situation or actual criteria that will be met on the day of the maritime strike demonstration,” he added.
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.
“Yes, exactly. As we have mentioned before, we have already submitted to higher headquarters to include, and to the Department of National Defense the list of essential or critical capabilities that the Navy or the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) intends to have. And this 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.
“I think the Secretary of National Defense (Gilberto Teodoro Jr.) said it best. Walang pakialaman kahit sinong bansa (no nation has the right to meddle or interfere) 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 if in the objective of enhancing combined operations or to be able to cooperate with them in the future,” Alcos said.
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. (PNA)
