Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Photo shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (front), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

KIN, Japan, Sept. 20 Kyodo - The U.S. Marine Corps unveils its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, to the media on Sept. 20, 2025, at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa. (Kyodo)

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

U.S. missile system in Okinawa

The U.S. Marine Corps unveils its Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, to the media on Sept. 20, 2025, at Camp Hansen in Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2025, shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (L and C), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, deployed for the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint exercise.

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Japan-U.S. joint drill on Ishigaki Island

Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2025, shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (L and C), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Ishigaki on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, deployed for the Sept. 11-25 Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint exercise.

(1)Maritime drill sends warning to weapons trading nations

(1)Maritime drill sends warning to weapons trading nations

CORAL SEA, Australia - Japan Coast Guard inspection team members board a 'suspicious' ship in an interdiction training exercise to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia on Sept. 13. The drill was conducted with the Australian, U.S. and French navies. Photo provided by the Japan Coast Guard. (Kyodo)

(2)Maritime drill sends warning to weapons trading nations

(2)Maritime drill sends warning to weapons trading nations

CORAL SEA, Australia - Members of a Japan Coast Guard special unit descend from a helicopter in an interdiction training exercise to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia on Sept. 13. The drill was conducted with the Australian, U.S. and French navies. Photo provided by the Japan Coast Guard. (Kyodo)