Sea Basing

What about Diego Garcia then? The lease runs out in 2016 or when the base is not required anymore for "defence purposes". The word defence always has a vague meaning for me. In the case of Diego Garcia it is also misleading. Defence is both defensive and offensive operations. Diego Garcia is a forward deployed base, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean and clearly there to be close to the hotspots in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The US government have asked and received permission from the UK Government to offensive operations. Diego Garcia doesn't serve anything in the defence of the UK.

Why is UK Government proclaiming sea level rise as an obstacle for the Chagossians to live there permanently, when it appears not be valid for Diego Garcia?

The answer of that question can be found HERE, the website of the Navy Warfare Development Command. It is called Sea Basing.

"SEA BASING serves as the foundation from which offensive and defensive fires are projected making SEA STRIKE and SEA SHIELD realities. As enemy access to weapons of mass destruction grows, and the availability of overseas bases declines, it is compelling both militarily and politically to reduce the vulnerability of U.S. forces through expanded use of secure, mobile, networked sea bases. SEA BASING capabilities will include providing Joint Force Commanders with global command and control and extending integrated logistical support to other services. Afloat positioning of these capabilities strengthens force protection and frees airlift-sealift to support missions ashore."

Basically it will be a floating Diego Garcia, self propelled, airport, wharves, storage, the lot. Sea level rise? No problem, we float!

The whole concept is part of SEA POWER 21

It is described on the same website as:

SEA POWER 21 defines a Navy with three fundamental concepts: SEA SHIELD, SEA STRIKE, and SEA BASING,enabled by FORCEnet. Respectively, they enhance America's ability to project offensive power, defensive assurance, and operational independence around the globe. A supporting triad of initiatives will develop those core operational concepts: Sea Warrior, SEA TRIAL, and Sea Enterprise.

SEA SHIELD develops naval capabilities related to homeland defense, sea control, assured access, and projecting defense overland. By doing so, it reassures allies, strengthens deterrence, and protects the joint force.

SEA STRIKE is a broadened concept for naval power projection that leverages enhanced C4ISR, precision, stealth, and endurance to increase operational tempo, reach, and effectiveness.

SEA BASING projects the sovereignty of the United States globally while providing Joint Force Commanders with vital command and control, fire support, and logistics from the sea, thereby minimizing vulnerable assets ashore.

Sea Warrior is the process of developing 21st century Sailors. It identifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for mission accomplishment; applies a career-long training and education continuum; and employs a responsive, interactive career management system to ensure the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

SEA TRIAL is a continual process of concept and technology development through focused wargames, experiments, and exercises. It strengthens the Navy's culture of innovation and accelerates the delivery of enhanced capabilities to the Fleet.

Sea Enterprise captures efficiencies by employing lessons. From the business revolution to assess organizational alignment; target areas for improvement, and prioritize investments. FORCEnet is an overarching effort to integrate warriors, sensors, networks, command and control, platforms, and weapons into a fully netted, combat force. FORCEnet will be the Navy's plan to make network-centric warfare an operational reality.

That future doesn't look promising for a peaceful world as it assumes violent solutions to international problems without the full exploration of non-violent solutions. Diego Garcia will close for its offensive operations. The only question is when.

I predict it will remain a crucial link in the Air Force GPS network with the groundstation there.

Check out US Navy GPS Info.

GPS consists of three major segments: SPACE, CONTROL and USER.

The SPACE segment consists of 24 operational satellites in six orbital planes (four satellites in each plane). The satellites operate in circular 20,200 km (10,900 nm) orbits at an inclination angle of 55 degrees and with a 12-hour period. The position is therefore the same at the same sidereal time each day, i.e. the satellites appear 4 minutes earlier each day.

The CONTROL segment consists of five Monitor Stations (Hawaii, Kwajalein, Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, Colorado Springs), three Ground Antennas, (Ascension Island, Diego Garcia, Kwajalein), and a Master Control Station (MCS) located at Schriever AFB in Colorado. The monitor stations passively track all satellites in view, accumulating ranging data. This information is processed at the MCS to determine satellite orbits and to update each satellite's navigation message. Updated information is transmitted to each satellite via the Ground Antennas.

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