What is ASU?

• A. Anti-Surface Ship Warfare; The detection, tracking, and destruction or neutralization of enemy surface combatants and merchant ships.
• B. Anti-Submarine Warfare; The detection, tracking and destruction of submarines.
• C. Air Surface Unit; Coordination between air and surface units.
• D. Anti-Store Vessel Utilization; Naval doctrine.

Answer: (A)

Anti-Surface Warfare is about contesting threats that operate on the sea surface. It focuses on detecting enemy surface ships, tracking their movements, and then destroying or neutralizing them (including warships and merchant vessels) to protect friendly forces and maritime traffic.

This concept relies on sensors and weapons to keep surface threats at bay: radar and other sensors to find ships, tracking to understand their behavior and intent, and weapons or coordinated fires to engage when necessary. It’s the surface-domain counterpart to anti-submarine warfare (which targets submarines) and is distinct from other non-surface terms that don’t describe this mission set.