In naval warfare, one of the best tools for area denial is the anti-ship missile system. They strengthen a state’s combat and deterrent capability in a hostile maritime environment. 

Anti-ship missiles form a credible component of any nation’s defence capabilities. Anti-access area denial (A2/AD) provides an ability to prevent adversaries from gaining dominance in the region. Volatile tensions between adversarial countries – such as the terse warning and naval harassment from Iran to the U.S. in April 2020 – highlight just one reason these developments are crucial to study.

[...]

Read the full article at FrontLine Defence, "a forum for intelligent analysis of issues relating to Canada's military services."