ExerciseWatch: BALTOPS und A2/AD

160610-O-ZZ999-003 BALTIC SEA (June 10, 2016) BALTOPS 2016 participants steam in formation during a photo exercise June 10, 2016. BALTOPS is an annual recurring multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability, enhance flexibility and demonstrate the resolve of allied and partner nations to defend the Baltic region. (Photo by France Air Force Warrant Officer Cedric Artigues/Released)

Zur laufenden Marineübung BALTOPS in der Ostsee, an der auch die Deutsche Marine kräftig beteiligt ist, ein notwendiger Nachtrag und Merkposten: Für die NATO (aber auch die USA außerhalb der NATO) spielt der Begriff A2/AD eine immer größere Rolle – Anti Access/Area Denial, die Fähigkeit eines (potenziellen) Gegners, den Zugang zu ganzen Gebieten zu verwehren.

A2/AD ist deshalb auch ein Thema bei BALTOPS, und deshalb zur Dokumentation (und zum Nachschlagen später mal) der Hinweis auf ein Pressebriefing der U.S. Navy (die BALTOPS veranstaltet) vom 8. Juni, die Abschrift hier:

June 8, 2016: Vice Admiral James G. Foggo, III on BALTOPS 2016

in dem natürlich die Frage nach dem Area Denial aufkam – ohne dass da konkret benannt wurde, wo denn diese verweigerten Gebiete in der Ostsee sein könnten. Aus der Antwort von Rear Admiral Paddy McAlpine von der britischen Royal Navy, stellvertrender Kommandeur der
Naval Striking & Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO):

So yes, there is a lot of A2/AD talk, there’s a lot of A2/AD regions and the names that are coming around and different areas in the world where others may look to actually restrict our freedom of movement, freedom of navigation, and freedom of action.  But we need to continue to come out here and challenge ourselves such that we can answer those challenges should they arise in the future, and we’ll take the opportunity to do so.
It has been really good out here.  There have been issues that have come up.  We deal with those issues every day.  We have improved our picture.  We have improved our communications.  We have improved our command and control, which is exactly why we want to come up into all of the areas, and why we’ve come further north into the Baltic Sea this year than we have in the past because, well firstly, we’ve been invited by the Finns to do so; secondly, it’s a new area for us so we continue to demonstrate and continue to challenge ourselves and improve our understandings of the environment and take every opportunity to do so, and every opportunity to train.
So yes, there are challenges under this new A2/AD environment, as it seems to be springing up around the world.  But we will take every opportunity to improve our ability to counter those challenges as they arise.

Und keiner mag Kaliningrad sagen.

(Foto: Photo Exercise bei BALTOPS 2016 am 10. Juni; im Vordergrund der deutsche Tender Donau – France Air Force Warrant Officer Cedric Artigues via U.S. Navy)