the area that is the first objective of a military force landing on an enemy shore.
2.
a secure initial position that has been gained and can be used for further advancement; foothold: The company has won a beachhead in the personal computer market.
A position on an enemy shoreline captured by troops in advance of an invading force.
A first achievement that opens the way for further developments; a foothold: "It is not yet clear whether the ecologists will establish a beachhead in the economists' carefully constructed intellectual empire"(Peter Passell).