Operational Maneuver from the Sea: A Counter to Area Denial in the 21st Century
Abstract
The ability of the United States to protect its national interest around the globe may be threatened in the 21st Century. A future adversary's use of an area denial strategy consisting of naval mines, diesel-electric submarines, and antiship cruise missiles could pose a challenge to the United States' ability to project power. The United States can attempt to counter this area denial strategy directly or concede the denied area to our adversary and use other options to defeat him. One possible option to consider is the Marine Corps' capstone operational warfighting concept titled Operational Maneuver from the Sea (OMFTS). This new concept uses maneuver, speed, flexibility, and deception and can be a viable option to defeat an adversary's area denial strategy. OMFTS capitalizes on the use of the sea as a maneuver space to protect naval forces, deceive the enemy, and strike swiftly against enemy vulnerabilities. As we enter the new millennium, the United States must maintain its capability to project power at will. When faced with an adversary's area denial strategy, we should be able to out- think our opponent, get into his decision cycle and disrupt it, remain unpredictable, and force our adversary into situations that he is not ready to handle. OMFTS exhibits all the essential elements necessary to enable the United States to continue to project power in the 21 Century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 17, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA370629
Entities
People
- Anthony M. Haslam
Organizations
- Naval War College