The notion of anti-access/area denial (A2AD) refers to a set of capabilities operating in many domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber, electronic) with the sole aim of inflicting maximum attrition on the opposing forces’ combat assets in the whole spectrum of strategic action. This notion appeared in 2003 in the US strategic debate and rapidly came to the top priorities of NATO members’ embassies and general staffs. On a strictly conceptual level, A2AD brings little innovation, as armed forces have always deployed assets meant to protect themselves or to restrict opposing forces’ freedom of movement. The strong comeback of A2AD is the result of recent strategies adopted and brand-new assets implemented by some actors (such as Russia and China) with a view to paralyse Western armed forces’ expeditionary operations. Several elements suggest that we are witnessing the end of the force projection era: the large spread of some armaments such as anti-ship missiles, mines or surface-to-air systems – the implementation of which does not fall anymore within the monopoly of states –, or else the evolution of the capabilities peculiar to A2AD – the networking of various sensors and effectors with improved performances indeed tends to seriously restrict armed forces’ freedom of manoeuvre.
In order to discuss this issue, we have the honour of welcoming two subject matter experts. Mr Frank Bekkers, director of the Comprehensive Security Programme within The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), will address the geopolitical dimension of A2AD. Dr Alessandro Marrone from the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) will then discuss the strategic and operational implications of A2AD for NATO.
Research lines: Threats, challenges and strategic responses ; Defence capabilities and technologies ; Eurasia
Evening conference
Military Force Projection at Risk?
The question of Anti-Access/Area Denial
Mr Frank BEKKERS
Doctor Alessandro MARRONE
Moderator : Alain DE NEVE
Language: English
Simultaneous translation into Dutch and French
21 November 2019, 17:00 – 18:30
> 16:30 – Registration
> 17:00 – Conference
> 18:00 – Reception
Campus Renaissance
Rue Hobbema, 8
1000 Brussels
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