The 21st century will witness the advent of unique and powerful capabilities delivered by global sea-based forces. In the decades ahead, the seas will comprise the most independent and secure maneuver space for joint military forces. Weapons, sensors, and communications systems with revolutionary reach and precision will integrate maritime forces into a unified battle space extending across sea, land, air, space, and cyberspace—providing invaluable strategic and operational advantage from the vast international domain of the world's oceans. (Here, an F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the USS Abraham Lincoln [CVN-72] for operations in support of the war on terrorism.)
