DEFENSE
Floating defense bases bolster maritime resilience
Offshore platforms extend security range where land-based infrastructure is limited
Gibbs & Cox's MODEP Concept for converting oil rigs into missile defense pads. Photo: Screengrab from Naval News / Leidos/ YouTube
As geopolitical tensions rise, countries are exploring floating bases to project power and secure maritime zones. These offshore strongholds offer flexibility and endurance far from traditional land infrastructure.
Recent developments include:
MODEP: Oil rigs as floating defense hubs
In 2025, the US Navy advanced a concept to convert decommissioned oil rigs into mobile missile-defense and resupply platforms. The Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP) could operate autonomously at sea for months, supporting missiles, logistics, and ship maintenance.Quick-launch fast boat base in Philippines
The US is funding construction of a fast-boat operations hub in Palawan, Philippines, for patrol and response purposes in the South China Sea. It will include storage, lodging, and launch facilities for rapid deployment close to contentious waters.Containerized modular USVs for expanded coverage
The Navy’s Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) initiative moves toward standardized unmanned vessels carrying containerized payloads. These can be rapidly produced, deployed, and repurposed for multiple missions including strike, surveillance, or electronic warfare.
MOB. Image by Naval News
That’s not all: analysts suggest floating bases offer strategic depth in contested maritime areas away from shore infrastructure. Governments and defense analysts are now studying how policies, risk models, and naval doctrine must adapt to support distributed floating bases.
—TFI
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