A much more detailed study of the new USMC strategy appeared in early 2025 in the naval magazine Modern Ships [现代舰船]. This Chinese assessment noted with considerable alarm that the USMC was experimenting with unmanned surface vessels capable of firing the stealthy LRASM anti-ship cruise missile and that these units could alternatively serve as forward scouts, fixing targets for long-range U.S. military fires.
Still, this analysis underlines some weaknesses of the USMC strategy, including the range limitations of related sensors and drones, and even characterized the air-defense capabilities of the USMC as “precarious.” Another study in this same magazine had earlier drawn attention to the logistics quandaries raised by the new strategy.
Read the whole thing but the Chinese have simply outlined the same issues that US based experts have stated.
The good? Unmanned vessels capable of firing long range antiship missiles. The same units could serve as scouts.
The bad? A TOTAL LACK OF DENSITY! The number of ships will be so limited that destroying them even in piecemeal fashion will be relatively easy for screening long range UAVs equipped with air to surface missiles. I DO NOT BELIEVE that even in their destruction that they've served their purpose. Losing equipment to enemy long range aircraft does nothing to inform you about the position of the enemy fleet!~
The good? Ain't no more good according to the Chinese.
The bad? Limited sensor range. The GAT/OR radar does nothing to increase our situational awareness and while I'm far from an expert on radars in general and this system in particular I do note that like other radars its big, bulky and as the war in Iran has shown us vulnerable to enemy action. Even a minor power was able to destroy several US Army radars with much greater range and protection than an MLR has.
Logistics? To my knowledge no solution to supplying the MLR in a contested area has been found. Unmanned helicopters (the UH-60 version comes to mind) and boats are tossed around but have yet to enter service. If the USMC puts an MLR in harms way and the Chinese engage in the grey zone activity that I believe they will then the MLR will have to survive on what they brought with them. If the Chinese are as aggressive as I believe they will be diplomatically then I expect that a few our allies will be bullied into submission and won't help even in this non-hostile endeavor.
Anti-Air? The lack of anti-air systems that the USMC is employing with the MLR makes me wonder who came up with this and what street drug they were smoking. Not only are the systems short ranged but the lack of magazine depth that they will have is shocking. Cannon and Stinger missile based anti-air? A modest electronic warfare setup? Not only is it unimpressive but its downright insulting to the Marines on the ground.
Against a drone swarm they MIGHT have enough anti-air for on medium to large engagement. Anything after that and they're pussy on a plate...just waiting to get fucked.
The MLR is a bad idea.
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
The MLR is designed to die in place. It's real purpose is to rally the American people to engage in a war with China over a nation (Taiwan) that they really don't care about.
The American people will care about 2000 Marines being killed, injured or captured by the Chinese though.
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