Abstract
The proliferation of modern anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) weapons has changed the severity of the threat in constricted waters such as the Strait of Hormuz (SOH) and the Arabian Gulf. This paper illustrates how Iran has combined these modern weapons with a hybrid form of warfare that presents a Coalition Naval Force (CNF) with a serious threat to contend with when operating in Iran’s littoral waters. The US Navy and its coalition partners must assess the nature of Iran’s A2/AD network when considering which Course of Action (COA) will allow them to fight, win and survive a conflict with Iran. This paper recommends a COA that will allow a CNF to achieve desired objectives by leveraging the advantages of operating in the North Arabian Sea. This recommendation is defended by refuting the prevailing school of thought which contends that freedom of navigation can and must be maintained through the SOH. It dispels the myths and misperceptions regarding Iran’s inability to control the straits and our ability to fight our way in/out of the Arabian Gulf. Finally, by drawing on examples from past operations, the paper supports the argument that a CNF’s conventional advantages will allow them to achieve their desired objectives while limiting the scale of the conflict.
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