Sea Control - What does it Mean Now and What Should it Mean in the Future

摘要

This paper argues that current definition of sea control / maritime superiority should be changed to reflect that freedom of movement of one's own aircraft is not necessary in order to affect operations at sea. Instead, what is required is either freedom from attack by air or ability to defend successfully against such an attack. This perspective closely parallels U.S. Army land warfare doctrine and is explored comparatively through a brief review of air power definitions and theory, two land battle case studies, and two sea battle case studies. After establishing a common capability to fight without air superiority, existing and emergent technologies are applied to the operational and tactical need to be able to operate in this manner. Finally, doctrinal changes are recommended to demonstrate that eliminating the air superiority prerequisite from the sea control definition will afford greater Joint Force Commander flexibility for modern operations at sea.