Staff Reports
In light of the recent $95 billion spending package for foreign aid, the U.S. Navy has decided to implement new strategies to counter China in the Pacific, as reported by The Defense Post.
The spending package includes $8.1 billion designated for Taiwan and countries in the Pacific, while the Navy plans to convert surplus oil rigs into mobile military bases. These bases will serve as resupply depots for vessels and will also act as missile defense systems.
The project, known as the Mobile Defense/Depot Platform or MODEP, was developed by naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox. They have stated that these bases can carry a substantially larger amount of weaponry compared to a Navy destroyer.
This concept was revealed in April at National Harbor, Maryland's Sea Air Space Expo.
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David Zook, solutions architect and combat systems department manager for Gibbs & Cox, indicated that the primary goal is to come up with a solution to address the issue of limited capacity in the Western Pacific.
One Navy official pointed out the benefits of MODEP, emphasizing that it significantly reduces risks and costs associated with land-based defense systems.
The decision to pursue MODEP was influenced by cost, as it is only one-tenth the cost of creating a new missile defense system.
While the Navy’s approach is innovative, an older study from 2018 found potential weaknesses in these types of installations compared to traditional ground options.
Despite its innovation, the underlying purpose of MODEP remains concerning, particularly considering its implementation with China in mind. During a recent trip to China, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was given a message by Chinese Communist Party leader Chen Jining, indicating the impact of cooperation or confrontation between China and the U.S. on the future of both nations and humanity.
This, combined with the recent substantial spending package and the introduction of MODEP in the Pacific, suggests that the U.S. is preparing for potential conflict. It is hoped that rational decisions will prevail in these challenging times.
