Japan might put Aegis Ashore on floating platform

The Japanese government is said to be considering a suggestion to put the Aegis Ashore system on a floating platform out at sea.

Photo: MDA

However, the idea is met with skepticism by some as the floating base is vulnerable to tsunami and from torpedo attacks.

Another suggestion was to have two more Aegis-equipped destroyers added to the fleet but the challenge is finding enough personnel to man those warships. One solution proposed was to have Ground Self-Defense Force personnel deployed on board the ships.

But having more Aegis warships will not allow Japan to deploy them around the clock as the ships cannot operate effectively during bad weather.

Japan announced on Jun. 15 to suspend the Aegis Ashore program as it cannot guarantee that the SM-3’s Mk72 booster can safely drop inside the base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.