Topic: Area Access/ Area Denial(A2/Ad) Weapon System

Definition:

A2/AD is a weapon system in form of a device or strategy that is used to prevent an adversary from
occupying a piece of land sea or air. This can either be a substantial technology, weapon that can be used
to contain an adversary from entering into the objected place. Or it can also be a strategy coherent and
efficient enough that it makes the adversary retreat.

Explanation :

A2/AD techniques have also been used in history a number of times . In Medieval Warfare sharp and
sturdy stakes were buried at the bottom of long lines of ditches, pointed end up diagonally, in order to
prevent cavalry charges in a given area. Even if the stakes were spotted, soldiers would be forced to
dismount and effectively give up their advantage as cavalry as well as becoming easier targets. This
explains the deterrence it has to offer to the enemy . Similarly digging of a trench in Battle of Trench by
Muslims is another example of the A2/AD strategy. During World War 2 ditches and obstacles such as
Dragon teeth were used against the adversaries. All of these mentioned above were “Anti-Cavalry”

On the contrary Anti Infantry, Simple rows, or clusters of sharpened sticks (nowadays also known as
punji sticks), and the use of small caltrops have been a feature of anti-infantry warfare since antiquity.
However, due to the difficulty of mass-producing them in the pre-modern age, they were rarely used
except in the defense of limited areas or chokepoints, especially during sieges, where they were used to
help seal breaches. Increasing ease of production still did not prevent these methods from slowly falling
out of favor from the late Middle Ages onward. Caltrops are still sometimes used in modern conflicts,
such as during the Korean War, where Chinese troops, often wearing only light shoes, were particularly
vulnerable.

Relevance in the Modern Times:

In modern times, Explosives such as landmines or anti-ship missiles and CBRN are most common
examples of A2/AD weapon systems. Landmines are most used explosives that can either be planted by
hand or can be dispersed by the artillery. Anti-ship missiles are a modern method of stopping a potential
adversary from attacking by sea. China, North Korea, Syria, and Iran all have developed or imported such
weapons in an effort to develop a modern A2/AD strategy to counter United States power projection from
nearby waterways. In response to China's pursuit of such A2/AD capabilities, the United States has
developed the Air Sea Battle doctrine. CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and
Explosive) weapons can be used for area denial, as long as the agent is long-lasting. Fallout from nuclear
weapons might be used in such a role. Its efficiency depends upon how long lasting the agent is.

Drawbacks:

 Cannot Differentiate between a combatant and a non combatant

 Explosive-based area-denial weapons (mines) may be intentionally equipped with detonators
which degrade over time, either exploding them or rendering them relatively harmless.