U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, execute a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rapid infiltration from a U.S. Army Logistics Support Vehicle as part of exercise Keen Sword at Kin Red, Okinawa, Japan, on Oct. 31, 2020. Employing deliberate and dynamic targeting against land, sea, and air targets, these Marines and Soldiers further enabled the bilateral amphibious force to maneuver through the littorals while supporting naval operations at sea.
One such precision, long-range fires capability was on display as High Mobility Artillery Rockets System launchers, from both the Marine Corps and Army, landed on beaches via ocean-going transports in support of an amphibious raid elsewhere in the exercise area. HIMARS launchers can be moved throughout a distributed maritime environment via air, sea, or land. This freedom of movement, coupled with the long-range strike capability of HIMARS, means that the U.S.-Japan team can rapidly move precision-fire weapons into position and strike distant targets smoothly.
Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise involving Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces strengthen readiness, interoperability, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. Employing deliberate and dynamic targeting against land, sea, and air targets, these Marines and Soldiers further enabled the bilateral amphibious force to maneuver through the littorals while supporting naval operations at sea. Through this exercise, the shape of future operations in the region is on display – fast, fluid, and together with allies and partners.
