An American military contractor wants to repurpose unused oil rigs as mobile bases that would help resupply US Navy vessels in the Pacific and host missile launchers.
Gibbs & Cox, a naval architecture subsidiary of Leidos, presented the Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP) concept at the Sea Air Space 2024 exhibit in Washington, DC earlier this month.
The missile base version could hold up to 512 Vertical Launch System (VLS) missile cells, or up to 100 new Large Missile Launchers (LML). The concept also “reduces risks and costs associated with land-based defense systems,” Leidos and Gibbs & Cox also said. Japan has considered using converted oil rigs as an alternative to its canceled Aegis Ashore missile defense program.
Both variants could travel at speeds of 5-8 knots to cover about 200 nautical miles a day and maintain stability even in waves up to 60 feet (20 meters) tall.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
In your opinion, does the concept of mobile ocean bases make the world safer or escalate the risk of conflict?
@9LVN3X81wk1W
The concept of mobile ocean bases makes me feel nervous as if the US is purposefully trying to start war with China.
@9LVPLZV1wk1W
The building and brandishing of arms in this way, especially ones that could be able to cause lots of damage are unnecessary, the only reason for machines and weapons like this are to kill and at the very least intimidate which we don’t need more of
@9LVPC84Republican1wk1W
We should all have some for of defense to be safe, but that doesn't necessarily mean the base is for starting war with China
@9LVHQ5QIndependent1wk1W
It both makes the country safer and also escalates the risk of conflict because of how close those bases may be to China and how much of a threat they believe that the bases will be.
@9LVHGS81wk1W
I believe it promotes the idea of war in general but its nice that innocent civilians have been removed from the equasion
@9LVGZV31wk1W
Escalate the risk of conflict because China might see that as a threat.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
How do you feel about the idea of transforming unused oil rigs into mobile military bases to potentially prepare for conflict?
@9LVB7GM 1wk1W
We should not be promoting war. With all the domestic issues in our country, our government should be concentrating on programs that improves the lives of every person and does not act as the "strong arm" for the multi-national corporations.
@9LV9Z621wk1W
If it's to prepare for potential war, I'm ok with it.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
Considering non-traditional warfare strategies, like mobile ocean bases, how does this affect your perception of national security?
@9LVB7GM 1wk1W
I think it does nothing for national security, and just pumps more money into the pockets on the Military industrial complex.
@ISIDEWITH1wk1W
