The Mainichi

Floating islands equipped with missile defense systems are being discussed by the Japanese government as an alternative to the suspended surface-to-air Aegis Ashore missile program, it has emerged.

In the past, use of megafloat structures has been proposed to help with works connected to moving the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, in the city of Ginowan in Okinawa Prefecture, southernmost Japan, to the proposed site of a new base in nearby Henoko, in the city of Nago. But the idea was ultimately not pursued due to a number of issues including technological hurdles.

Megafloats are made with methods based on shipbuilding technology, in which metal boxes are connected together and put out to float in the sea. Among their advantages are that they have shorter construction times compared to land reclamation, and they have a lower impact on the environment.

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