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A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial)

E2. Naval, defence and maritime law enforcement

Definition

Strategy to deny adversary access/operation within a maritime zone.

Anti-access/area-denial is the combination of capabilities a state fields to keep an opposing force from entering a theater (anti-access) and from operating freely once inside it (area-denial). The toolkit pairs long-range anti-ship and ballistic missiles, integrated air defense, submarines, and mines to push carriers and amphibious forces back. The term is most associated with Chinese and Russian capabilities arrayed against US power projection in the western Pacific and the approaches to Europe.