Page 168 - MDSL Final

CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION OF MARITIME POWER
Military Role at Sea

Intelligence Collection and Surveillance

Intelligence collection, surveillance and environment assessment
gathering activities are conducted during all operations and have
obvious application to national requirements outside conflicts; they
are vital enablers in maritime combat. Comprehensive intelligence and
surveillance are fundamental to the generation of the degree of battle
space awareness that will necessary to seize and maintain the initiative
and achieve battle space dominance. All maritime units can contribute to
the development of this awareness and exploit its products space-based
and over the horizon surveillance and intelligence collection systems.
Shore based processing, production and dissemination systems also
play a vital role, particularly in the provision of prompting information
allows forces to be concentrated and focused against a particular threat
or target.

Surveillance is necessary for development of MDA, as required for various
missions. Surveillance by warships and maritime reconnaissance/patrol
aircraft is primarily undertaken through their integral sensors like radars
(including early warning radars) and Electronic Support Measures (ESM).

Cover

These are the operations conducted to provide support to less powerful
units or detached elements in order to provide security to the detached
units out at sea. Covering forces may require positioning within reach of
the units needing protection; the cover may also be exercised effectively
through the simple threat of intervention.

Maritime Strike and Interdiction

Combat operations are conducted against an adversary’s combat and
logistics shipping for either a direct strategic effect or to meet and
operational or tactical aim. Interdiction of adversary’s maritime forces,
to prevent their sea control, sea denial or power projection can be
conducted from the sea or from the land and can be directed against

To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea 149