Force Projection, Strategic Agility and the Big Meltdown

Abstract

Due to global warning, the polar icepack which covers the Arctic Sea is melting. One of the very likely results of this environmental phenomenon is the year-round opening of the Arctic maritime sea routes. The strategic and operational implications for U.S. national and military security strategies would be significant. These routes would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and provide both alternate and shorter maritime routes for U.S. force projection and strategic agility. Inter-theater movement of forces over the top of the world would provide a supported combatant commander both flexibility in operational design and advantages in operational functions. Future use of the Arctic Sea routes would directly support the national security strategy, in a highly complex global security environment which will often require rapid and sustained U.S. military response to threats and crises.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 18, 2001
Accession Number
ADA392872

Entities

People

  • David B. Hill

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Climate Change
  • Coast Guard
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Deployment
  • Environment
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • International Law
  • Logistics
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Panama Canal
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design