Compass Points - Marine Missiles?
Missiles fly at Balikatan 2026
Compass Points - Marine Missiles?
Missiles fly at Balikatan 2026
May 7. 2026
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The missiles are flying in the Philippines at exercise Balikatan 2026. Japan fired its Type 88 anti-ship missile, and the US Army fired its HIMARS. What about the US Marines?
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Japan’s Self-Defense Forces fired a Type 88 anti‑ship missile during a joint maritime exercise with U.S., Australian, and Philippine forces on Wednesday, hitting a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship in waters facing the South China Sea.
. . . “The exercise showcased coordinated maritime strike operations among allied forces and highlighted the AFP’s growing capability to operate alongside international partners in promoting regional security and freedom of navigation,” it said in a statement.
The Philippine military said two Type 88 volleys were fired, hitting the BRP Quezon within six minutes of the launch. The strike took place about 75 km (46.6 miles) off the coast of Paoay in the northern Philippines, which faces the South China Sea.
-- Reuters
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In northern Luzon, the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division took charge of hundreds of troops from four different nations to conduct a major counter-landing event.
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Once Ghost-X and other unmanned systems identified the amphibious targets, the drone operators relayed targeting data information to the 25th Infantry Division’s recently acquired M142 High Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems (HIMARS). After receiving their fire orders, two launchers a few hundred meters to the rear of the defensive line slewed their launching pods toward the coast and rippled off a total of six rockets in their first salvo. The ripple-fired missiles flew overhead at a depressed trajectory and slammed into the waters offshore. A brief pause ensued as the HIMARS crews repositioned to a new firing location to avoid adversary counterfire. Within 10 minutes, the launchers emptied their remaining six rockets into the sea.
U.S. and Philippine leadership have strategically positioned HIMARS throughout the Southeast Asian archipelago for this year’s Balikatan and recent exercises. While the American missile system currently lacks a widely fielded munition capable of conducting maritime strikes, upcoming missiles will allow the launcher to target ships at ranges between 310.7 to 621.4 miles away. With these future capabilities in mind, American missile forces could lock down maritime chokepoints or threaten Chinese naval movements in the event of a conflict.
A few moments after launching the HIMARS salvos, U.S. and Philippine troops rushed toward prepared fighting positions in Infantry Squad Vehicles or on foot.
-- USNI News
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In Balikatan 2026, Japan fired their missiles and the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division fired their missiles. Where were the US Marines?
Late in the article about Japan firing “two Type 88 volleys” during Balikatan 2026, Reuters also mentions in passing that, “American troops also deployed the anti-ship missile NMESIS in Batanes province.” US Marines do not even get mentioned by name any more? Perhaps that is because the Marine NMESIS just sits on the shore and does not fire.
Another report indicated that while the 25th ID was firing their HIMARS, some Marines from I MEF were 250 miles south at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, practicing command and control.
The annual exercise Balikatan between the US and the Philippines began in 2001 and in its early years was mainly an opportunity for the Philippine military and the US Marines to train together. Over the years, the size and importance of Balikatan has increased year by year. As Balikatan has grown larger, however, the US Marine contribution has grown smaller.
Perhaps the Marine Corps has grown smaller in capabilities as it has changed its battlefield focus from a unified single battle concept, including the deep, close, and rear areas, to a fragmented focus only the deep battle.
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The deep, close, and rear areas of the battlefield are inherently interdependent, and operations in one area will influence events in another. The commander must consider the toal battlespace or the entire operational environment as an indivisible entity.
-- Marine Corps Planning Process
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The US Army’s 25th ID participation in Balikatan 2026 reflects a significant increase in the Army’s capabilities in the Pacific. When the US Army saw the need to increase its forces in the Pacific, the Army did not use the Marine Corps’ “divest to invest” approach. Instead of divesting proven capabilities, the Army went to Congress and made the case for adding new capabilities. Congress agreed.
Compass Points salutes the live fire missile launches by Japan and by the US Army’s 25th ID. The Marine Corps has spent several years cutting capabilities to focus on sensor and missiles units. If Balikatan 2026 is any indication, the Marine Corps has little to show for its years long missile focus. The Pacific is a big place, however, with many challenges. The next battle in the Pacific may be a pure missile contest or it may not.
No one can predict with certainty where the next battle in the Pacific will arise or what form it will take. What is certain is that since the 1940’s the US Navy and Marine Corps team have shown their ability to fight the complete deep, close and rear -- single battle -- in the Pacific. It is not just in the Pacific. Around the globe, the US needs a forward deployed, flexible 9-1-1 force that can arrive rapidly to any crisis to deter, assist, rescue, strike, and fight. That kind of Marine Corps does not need an excessive focus on missiles, but it does need leadership with a global focus.
The missiles are flying in the Philippines at exercise Balikatan 2026. The US and allies need missiles in the Pacific. The US and allies also need a potent US Marine Corps.
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Reuters - 05/06/2026
Japan Fires Missile In Joint Drill With US And Allies In Northern Philippines, Facing South China Sea
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USNI News - 05/05/2026
Littoral Deep Battle
The Army’s Plan to Defeat an Amphibious Invasion in the Indo-Pacific
By Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
https://news.usni.org/2026/05/05/littoral-deep-battle
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This Compass Points should give pause to all Marines...both Active Duty and Reserve. As noted, Balikatan was initially a formal exercise designed to enhance the interoperability of Marine Forces and those of the Philippines. It has obviously grown much larger in participation which is, for the Region, a good thing. What is concerning is the fact that the Army's 25th ID appears to have taken over the central role...with a focus on defeating an Amphibious Operation conducted by the PLA/PLAN. 7 years ago, the concept behind Force Design was essentially what the 25th ID demonstrated during Balikatan. To achieve this capability, the Army did not "Divest to Invest"...they did not emasculate existing capability to create what was seen at Balikatan 2026. Instead, they apparently resorted to the Marine Corps tried and true concept of task organizing! Here we are, 7 years + into Force Design and much of what we determined to be the requirements to exercise our EABO effort remain either still on the drawing board or in our hands but not in the quantity or quality needed for the fight we see ahead. Of particular concern is the Stand-in Force and the ability to resupply those Forces and, if necessary, evacuate dead and wounded. Again, 7 years into the Force Design and the long pole in the tent remains Logistics. The failure to initially utilize the MCCDC Combat Development Process to determine requirements prior to divestment has been noted multiple times. At the end of the day, "The Campaign of Learning" has proven to be a poor substitute for the proper use of the Combat Development Process.
No need to comment any further on ship sinking impotence. The Army, Navy and USAF are all much better positioned to sink enemy ships. Just out fitting USMC aviation assets to sink ships would yield benefits by July 4th. Why continue to expend resources to finish a distant fourth place in a four way race in a mission the USMC self selected.
As to the General’s tenure. Human performance center…yawn. 3D parts production. OK, an emergency measure when a flawed system cannot deliver the parts. Yup, no mention of EABO. Logistics is critical. Not in taking care of themselves but getting the right stuff, to the right places, on time.