August 25, 2022
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Background
reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance battle within a
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC)
contested area at the leading edge of a maritime defense-in-
announced a major force design initiative planned to occur
depth.”
over the next 10 years referred to as “Force Design 2030.”
As part of this initiative, the Marine Corps aims to redesign
MLR Employment
its force to place a stronger emphasis on naval
According to a May 25, 2022 Marine Corps Association
expeditionary warfare and to better align itself with the
article “Missions, MAGTFs, Force Design & Change,” by
National Defense Strategy, in particular, the strategy’s
Colonel Michael R. Kennedy, USMC (Retired), MLRs are
focus on strategic competition with China and Russia. As
intended to:
part of this redesign, the Marines plan to establish at least
three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) organized, trained,
Deploy to islands, coastlines, and observation posts
and equipped to accomplish a number of missions within
along chokepoints where their networked sensors
contested maritime spaces.
and weapons can surveil the air and surface (and,
MLR Missions
potentially subsurface) waterways. The timing of
their insertion is implied to be in the “competition”
According to the Marines, the MLR is to be capable of the
phase before hostilities start. The duration of their
following missions:
stay is less clear, and potentially challenging as
resupply over long distances …will be challenging
Conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
… Host nation support (if it exists) will be critical
(EABO) which is a form of expeditionary warfare
as will prepositioned supplies and even “foraging.”
involving the employment of naval expeditionary forces
The MLR’s purpose will be to observe and prevent
with low electronic and physical signatures, which are
any “grey zone” activities that lead to fait accompli
relatively easy to maintain/sustain. These forces are to
actions. In some cases, it is presumed that they may
be arrayed in a series of austere, temporary locations
be the “trigger” that shifts the status from
ashore within a contested or potentially contested
maritime area to conduct sea denial, support, sea
competition to conflict if any premature hostile acts
control, and fleet sustainment operations;
are directed towards their positions.
Conduct strike operations with a variety of systems;
Proposed MLR Organizational Structure
Marine Corps leadership states it needs further analysis and
Coordinate air and missile defense operations;
experimentation to refine MLR organizational structure. As
currently envisioned, the MLR is planned to consist of
Support maritime domain awareness;
approximately 1,800 to 2,000 sailors and marines and
composed of four elements:
Support naval surface warfare operations; and
A Command Element;
Support information operations.
The MLR’s Operational Environment
A Littoral Combat Team consisting of an infantry
battalion and an anti-ship missile battery. The Littoral
The Commandant of the Marine Corps’ May 2022 Force
Combat Team is to provide the basis for multiple
Design 2030 Annual Update states:
platoon reinforced-sized expeditionary advanced base
sites capable of conducting a variety of missions;
The security environment is characterized by
proliferation of sophisticated sensors and precision
A Littoral Anti-Air Battalion designed to conduct air
weapons
coupled
with
growing
strategic
defense, air surveillance and early warning, air control,
competition. Potential adversaries employ systems
and forward rearming and refueling operations; and
and tactics to hold the fleet and joint force at arm’s
length, allowing them to employ a strategy that uses
A Combat Logistics Battalion designed to resupply
contested areas as a shield behind which they can
expeditionary advanced base sites, manage cache sites,
apply a range of coercive measures against our
and connect with higher-level logistics providers. The
allies and partners.
Combat Logistics Battalion is also to provide limited
purchasing authority, medical support, ammunition and
Operating in this environment, MLRs are envisioned to
fuel distribution, and field maintenance.
serve as what the Marines call a “Stand-In Force (SIF),”
primarily to “help the fleet and joint force win the
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The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Selected MLR Systems
third MLR. As previously noted, the Marines indicated they
In order to accomplish the wide range of missions
might decide to create additional MLRs in the future.
envisioned for the MLR, Marines Corps leadership contend
they require four major systems they consider essential.
Potential Issues for Congress
The Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and the creation of
Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction
MLRs raise a number of potential issues for Congress,
System (NMESIS)
including but not limited to:
NMESIS consists of the Naval Strike Missile mounted on
the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). It is a ground
MLR Utility Outside the Indo-Pacific
based anti-ship capability intended to facilitate sea denial
While Marine leadership have noted MLRs are being
and control.
designed to operate in the Indo-Pacific region, the Marines
have global security responsibilities. Russia’s February
Figure 1. Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship
2022 invasion of Ukraine has arguably changed the global
Interdiction System (NMESIS)
security environment and raises potential questions about
what role MLRs might play outside of the Indo-Pacific
region. Are MLRs structured and equipped to successfully
operate in support of U.S. NATO responsibilities if
required? If three Indo-Pacific MLRs are needed to support
operations in the region, are there plans to develop MLRs
for other regions? Congress might decide to examine MLR
structure and capabilities in regards to how MLRs might
support potential NATO operations and if additional force
structure and systems should be dedicated to create MLRs
to support operations outside the Indo-Pacific region.
Source: First Lieutenant James Winnefeld,” NMESIS Now,”
Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, November 2021.
Role of the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)
The Marines have noted Stand-In Forces require organic
MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
operational mobility, such as the LAW, to deploy and
The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long
sustain MLR elements in support of EABO. The Navy
endurance UAS. The MQ-9’s primary mission is to serve as
envisions procuring up to 35 LAWs and had planned
a persistent hunter-killer against enemy targets. The MQ-9's
procuring the first LAW in FY2023, but deferred the
alternate mission is to act as an intelligence, surveillance
procurement of the first LAW to FY2025. While Navy
and reconnaissance platform by employing sensors to
leadership has stated procuring the LAW is a priority, press
provide real-time data to joint force commanders.
reports suggest the Marines and Navy have differing views
about required LAW numbers and capabilities. Pending
AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar
delivery of the first LAWs – and perhaps as an alternative
(G/ATOR)
means for fulfilling roles planned for LAWs – the Marines
Initially fielded in 2018, G/ATOR is an expeditionary,
are now examining options for other platforms. Given
multifunctional radar system which is intended to enhance
uncertain and shifting Navy shipbuilding plans and the
the MLR’s ability to perform counterfire and air defense
Marine’s reliance on the procurement of LAWs, Congress
missions, such as defending against cruise missiles and
may examine risks associated with MLR deployment and
UASs.
sustainment if fewer LAWs are procured or if fielding
timelines are extended. If Congress deems such risks
Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)
unacceptable, Congress might decide to reprioritize Navy
A Navy program, the LAW is intended to fill a capability
shipbuilding plans or provide additional funding for the
gap between large, multipurpose amphibious warfare / L-
LAW program.
class ships and smaller, short-range landing craft. The LAW
is planned to be a low-signature, beaching, shore-to-shore
Additional Reading
vessel with intra-theater endurance capable of operating
independently or with other surface ships in contested
CRS Insight IN11281, New U.S. Marine Corps Force
environments in support of EABO.
Design Initiative: Force Design 2030, by Andrew
Feickert.
Future MLR Development
According to a March 2022, U.S. Naval Institute (USNI)
CRS Report R47096, U.S. Ground Forces in the Indo-
article, “Marines Stand Up First Marine Littoral Regiment,”
Pacific: Background and Issues for Congress, by
the current plan is for three MLRs, all based in the Indo-
Andrew Feickert.
Pacific. The Marines plan to convert the 4th Marine
Regiment and the 12th Marine Regiment – both based in
CRS Report R46374, Navy Light Amphibious Warship
Okinawa – into MLRs with the intent of all three MLRs
(LAW) Program: Background and Issues for Congress,
being operational by 2030. With the Hawaii-based 3rd
by Ronald O'Rourke.
Marine Regiment converted into a MLR in March 2022,
Marine officials estimate the next MLR transition in the
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
2025-2026 timeframe and the 2027-2030 timeframe for the
IF12200
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The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
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