The Bottom Line Upfront
The United States Navy plans to convert surplus oil rigs in the Pacific into active mobile military bases to counter China's growing influence in the region. These converted platforms, known as Mobile Defense/Depot Platforms (MODEP), will serve as missile defense and resupply bases, positioned at an optimal distance from shore and capable of operating independently for over 12 months.
The Breakdown
- This initiative is a strategic response to China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, providing the US Navy with flexible and cost-effective mobile bases to address escalating missile threats.
- The US Navy contractor Gibbs & Cox unveiled the Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP) concept during the Sea Air Space Expo in Washington, DC.
- The converted oil rigs will have the capacity to hold 512 vertical launch system cells or 100 large missile launchers, significantly increasing the US Navy's missile defense capabilities in the region.
- Additionally, the converted oil rigs could also support the sustainment of the US Navy's surface combatants and nuclear submarines, providing a versatile and mobile platform for various military operations.
- The cost of these mobile bases is estimated to be only 10 percent of a brand-new US Navy Ballistic Missile Defense system, potentially reducing risks and costs associated with land-based defense systems.
