On March 20, 2025, U.S. Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment conducted a rapid deployment exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, loading a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. This drill underscores the U.S. military’s strategic focus on rapid response and precision firepower in the Indo-Pacific, amid escalating regional tensions involving China and North Korea.

HIMARS, mounted on an FMTV 6x6 chassis, offers high mobility and the capability to launch various GPS-guided munitions, including GMLRS rockets (up to 150 km range) and ATACMS missiles (over 300 km range). Its "shoot-and-scoot" capability enhances survivability, making it ideal for dynamic conflict scenarios across archipelagic terrain.

The C-17 Globemaster III, a heavy-lift transport aircraft, plays a crucial role in strategic force projection. Capable of carrying up to 77,500 kg of cargo and operating from austere airstrips, it ensures rapid deployment of HIMARS and other critical assets.

With approximately 54,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, the presence of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) remains essential for deterrence and stability in the region. As tensions rise over Taiwan, maritime disputes, and North Korean missile activities, exercises like this demonstrate the U.S. military’s evolving shift from static defense to dynamic, expeditionary operations, reinforcing the U.S.-Japan alliance as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific security.