U.S. Marines conducted a live-fire drill with a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) near Mount Fuji on May 20, marking the second such exercise at Japan's Camp Fuji. The event involved firing a dozen rockets, including dummy projectiles, as part of a 'shoot and scoot' tactic designed to enhance rapid deployment and evasion of counter-battery fire.
The drill was conducted by the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, in coordination with Japanese military forces. A public road between the firing and landing zones was closed as a precaution during the exercise.
The HIMARS system, mounted on a mobile truck, has been used in conflicts such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently in the opening attack on Iran. Its precision-guided rockets can reach targets hundreds of miles away, raising strategic implications for the Pacific region, particularly in deterring potential Chinese military actions against Taiwan. The system's shorter-range rockets were used in this exercise, emphasizing its tactical flexibility.
The drill underscores growing collaboration between the U.S. and Japan in expanding mobile missile capabilities, with Taiwan also moving to enhance its defense systems. The exercise reflects broader efforts to adapt to evolving battlefield threats, including the proliferation of drones, which make static positions more vulnerable.