The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
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Updated January 10, 2025
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
Background
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) announced a major force design initiative planned to occur over 10 years originally referred to as “Force Design 2030” which is now known as “Force Design.” As part of this initiative, the Marines are redesigning forces to place a stronger emphasis on naval expeditionary warfare. As part of the redesign, the Marines plan to establish at least three Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs) organized, trained, and equipped to accomplish a number of missions within contested maritime spaces.
MLR Missions
According to the Marines, the MLR is to be capable of the following missions:
• Conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations
(EABO), a form of expeditionary warfare involving the employment of naval expeditionary forces. Selected Marine and Navy forces are to be arrayed in a series of austere, temporary locations ashore within a contested or potentially contested maritime area to conduct sea denial and control and fleet sustainment operations.
• Conduct strike operations with a variety of systems.
• Coordinate air and missile defense operations.
• Support maritime domain awareness.
• Support naval surface warfare operations.
• Support information operations.
The MLR’s Operational Environment
The Commandant of the Marine Corps’ May 2022 Force Design 2030 Annual Update stated
The security environment is characterized by proliferation of sophisticated sensors and precision weapons coupled with growing strategic
competition. Potential adversaries employ systems and tactics to hold the fleet and joint force at arm’s length, allowing them to employ a strategy that uses contested areas as a shield behind which they can apply a range of coercive measures against our allies and partners.
Operating in this environment, MLRs are envisioned to serve as what the Marines call a “Stand-In Force (SIF),” intended to help the fleet and joint force win the reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance battle within a contested area at the leading edge of a maritime defense-in- depth.
MLR Employment
According to a May 25, 2022, Marine Corps Association article “Missions, MAGTFs, Force Design & Change,” by Colonel Michael R. Kennedy, USMC (Retired), MLRs are intended to
Deploy to islands, coastlines, and observation posts along chokepoints where their networked sensors and weapons can surveil the air and surface (and, potentially subsurface) waterways. The timing of their insertion is implied to be in the “competition” phase before hostilities start. The duration of their stay is less clear, and potentially challenging as resupply over long distances … will be
challenging.… Host nation support (if it exists) will be critical as will prepositioned supplies and even foraging. The MLR’s purpose will be to observe and prevent any “grey zone” activities that lead to fait accompli actions.
MLR Organizational Structure
As currently envisioned, the MLR is to consist of approximately 1,800 to 2,000 Sailors and Marines composed of four elements:
• A Command Element. A regimental headquarters with
enhanced signals and human intelligence, reconnaissance, communications, logistics planning, civil affairs, cyber, and information operations capabilities.
• A Littoral Combat Team consisting of an infantry
battalion and an anti-ship missile battery. The Littoral Combat Team is to provide the basis for multiple reinforced platoon-sized expeditionary advanced base sites capable of conducting a variety of missions.
• A Littoral Anti-Air Battalion designed to conduct air
defense, air surveillance and early warning, air control, and forward rearming and refueling operations.
• A Combat Logistics Battalion designed to resupply
expeditionary advanced base sites, manage cache sites, and connect with higher-level logistics providers. The Combat Logistics Battalion is also to provide limited purchasing authority, medical support, ammunition and fuel distribution, and field maintenance.
Selected MLR Systems
In order to accomplish the wide range of MLR missions, the Marines and Navy are pursuing a number of essential systems including, but not limited to, the following:
Navy-Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) NMESIS consists of the Naval Strike Missile mounted on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). It is a ground- based anti-ship capability intended to facilitate sea denial and control. Reportedly, NMESIS batteries will be composed of 18 launchers, separated into two platoons of nine launchers each. The Marines plan to field 14 batteries, three of which are planned to be deployed to MLRs, while 11 will be deployed to the continental United States to support of rotational Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
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deployments. The Marines plan to declare Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for NMESIS by 2025, once four batteries are fully equipped. After the 14 batteries are deployed in 2030, NMESIS is to reach full operational capability (FOC). Reportedly, the 3rd MLR received its NMESIS fire units in late November 2024, which are to be assigned to the 3rd MLR’s Medium-Range Missile Battery stationed in Oahu, Hawaii.
MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long- endurance UAS. The MQ-9’s primary mission is to serve as a persistent hunter-killer against enemy targets. The MQ- 9’s alternate mission is to act as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. In August 2023, the Marines activated the MQ-9-equipped Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 (VMU 3) at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The Marines plan to field a total of 18 Reapers between two Active and one Reserve squadron by 2025. On November 21, 2024, Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2 conducted its first MQ-9A Reaper flight at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) According to the Marines,
MADIS is a short-range, surface-to-air system that enables [MLR] Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions to deter and neutralize unmanned aircraft systems and fixed wing/rotary wing aircraft. Mounted aboard two JLTVs.
Reportedly, on December 13, 2024, MADIS was fielded to the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion in Hawaii. More MADIS systems are planned to be fielded in the fourth quarter of FY2025.
Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM) (Previously Light Amphibious Warship [LAW]) A Navy program, the LSM is intended to fill a capability gap between large, multipurpose amphibious warfare/L- class ships and smaller, short-range landing craft. The LSM is planned to be a low-signature, beaching, shore-to-shore vessel with intra-theater endurance capable of operating independently or with other surface ships in contested environments in support of EABO.
Navy Cancels LSM Request for Proposal Reportedly, in early December 2024, “after receiving bids from industry, the Navy canceled the request for proposals for the Landing Ship Medium.” The cancellation reportedly was attributed “to higher-than-expected bids,” with one Navy official said to “cast doubt on the service’s previous plan to procure the lead vessel in fiscal year 2025.”
MLR Establishment
On March 3, 2022, the Marines redesignated the 3rd Marine Regiment as the 3rd MLR at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Reportedly, the 3rd MLR achieved IOC by the end of FY2023 after a Force Design Integration Exercise in September 2023, where Pacific-based Marines, including the 3rd MLR, practiced distributed operations and other Stand-In Force capabilities around the Hawaiian Islands. The 3rd MLR is expected to achieve FOC in FY2025.
Reportedly, the 12th Marine Artillery Regiment stationed in Okinawa is to be reorganized into the 12th MLR by 2025. On December 5, 2024, the 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion was activated at Camp Hansen Okinawa, Japan. Reportedly, on January 10, 2025, the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines held a redesignation ceremony at Camp Pendleton, California, and are to be incorporated into the 12th MLR, which is to be part of the 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines also reportedly plan to transfer the 4th Marine Regiment from Okinawa to Guam, where it is scheduled to be reorganized into the 4th MLR in 2027. Reportedly, this Guam-based MLR is to rely on rotational forces as opposed to permanently stationed Marines.
Potential Issues for Congress
Potential issues for Congress could include the following:
MLR Utility Outside the Indo-Pacific While Marine leadership have noted MLRs are being designed to operate in the Indo-Pacific region, the Marines have global security responsibilities. Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has arguably changed the global security environment and raises potential questions about what role MLRs might play outside of the Indo-Pacific region. 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 MLRs should be created to support operations outside the Indo- Pacific region.
Role of the Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM) The Marines have noted Stand-In Forces require organic operational mobility, such as the LSM, to deploy and sustain MLRs. The Navy envisions procuring up to 35 LSMs and had planned procuring the first LSM in FY2023, but deferred the procurement of the first LSM to FY2025. With the December 2024 cancellation of the LSM request for proposal, arguably the future of the LSM program could be in doubt. Given the Marines’ requirement for LSMs to support operational requirements in the Indo-Pacific region and the possibility that acquisition of LSMs could be significantly delayed or postponed altogether, Congress might examine the feasibility of the Marines’ Indo-Pacific strategy if LSM procurement is delayed, postponed, or if fewer LSMs are procured due to cost limitations. If Congress deems the Marines’ Indo-Pacific strategy too risky without the required LSMs, Congress might decide to reprioritize Navy shipbuilding plans or provide additional funding for the LSM program.
Additional Reading • CRS Report R47614, U.S. Marine Corps Force Design
2030 Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
• CRS Report R46374, Navy Medium Landing Ship
(LSM) (Previously Light Amphibious Warship [LAW]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF12200
The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR)
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12200 · VERSION 16 · UPDATED
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