Two Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) anti-air missile launchers arrive at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa in June 2026. The MADIS is expected to strengthen the base’s anti-air capabilities, particularly against drones. (US Marine Corps/Cpl. Alexander O. Devereux)

Why the US Marine Corps Is Fortifying Okinawa

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The US Marine Corps are stockpiling NMESIS and MADIS anti-ship and anti-air missiles on the island, with only one obvious target in mind.

The US Marine Corps is fortifying one of the most important islands in the Pacific Ocean—with an eye toward fending off a future Chinese invasion. 

Marine Corps units on the island of Okinawa recently received high-end anti-aircraft and anti-ship vehicles, better preparing the island—arguably the keystone of America’s military presence in the western Pacific—for future combat against the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

These Are the New Anti-Aircraft Systems on Okinawa

In June, Marine units in Okinawa received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS) and Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS).

The NMESIS is a ground-based anti-ship missile system that is designed to deny enemy ship movements in littoral environments, using........

© The National Interest