Abstract:

Maritime power, in the broadest sense, is military, political, and economic power exerted through the use of the sea, and exercised by sea, air, and land resources. Maritime power has traditionally been employed to control the sea lines of communications (SLOC) for the general economic welfare or survival of sea-dependent states, and for support of allied, joint, and combined operations on land. Maritime missions and tasks encompass a full range of activities requiring the application of naval and maritime air combat power. Sea control includes operations that locate, classify and track surface vessels, submarines and aircraft, and, if necessary, apply force against them. It may also include cooperation with merchant shipping and blockades or embargoes against commercial and military shipping. Power projection, on the other hand, involves using maritime offensive combat power to achieve decisive effect on land. Fundamental to all maritime operations is the ability to use force at sea and against the land.