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Overmatch is a concept in modern military thinking which prizes having overwhelming advantages over an adversary to a more significant margin than in traditional warfare. It is related to military superiority. Overmatch uses a military force's "capabilities or unique tactics" to compel the opposing forces to stop using their own equipment or tactics, as doing so would lead to their own defeat or destruction.Kevin M. Woods and Thomas C. Greenwood (Jan. 9, 2018) ''Joint Force Quarterly'' 88 Multidomain Battle: Time for a Campaign of Joint Experimentation
Overmatch provides "capabilities for presenting an adversary with multiple, simultaneous dilemmas across domains".
By fielding the right mix of capabilities, the commander can present multiple dilemmas to the enemy, thus compelling the enemy to withdraw.Gen. David G. Perkins (Nov 2, 2015) US Naval War College, Lecture of Opportunity: Gen. David G. Perkins: The Army Operating Concept
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Definition

According to the
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, c ...
, the definition of overmatch is "the concept where my (insert lethality system here) can willfully and without prejudice or luck defeat your (insert your protective system here)." According to
Raytheon Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitali ...
, overmatch is a verb which means "to defeat threats at every level – strategic, tactical and technological." According to Ben Barry, "overmatch is a very polite, clinical way of saying could be defeated.”


Example — AI versus human pilots

AI agents are not subject to the physiological constraints of a human pilot, such as the danger of flying at low altitude, or the g-forces of the aircraft accelerations. Human pilots noted that the AI agents flew with fine motor control. In the 2020 AlphaDogfight Trials (see image to the right), the AI agents battled for the chance to dogfight an expert human pilot. The winning AI agent consistently defeated an expert human pilot. Theresa Hitchens (20 August 2020) AI Slays Top F-16 Pilot In DARPA Dogfight Simulation
The AI systems are eventually to serve as wingmen for human commanders.
Eric Tegler (20 August 2020) AI Just Won A Series Of Simulated Dogfights Against A Human F-16 Pilot, 5-0. What Does That Mean?DARPAtv (20 August 2020) AlphaDogfight Trials Final Event
5 hour live stream.
The technology will be installed in actual aircraft by 2024.SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR. (09 September 2020) AI To Fly In Dogfight Tests By 2024: SecDef
For "human-machine teaming".
''Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency—Our Research'' Col. Daniel Javorsek, USAF: Air Combat Evolution (ACE)
"This shifts the human role from single platform operator to mission commander".
Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (24 February 2020) DoD Adopts AI Ethics Principles — But How Will They Be Enforced?
/ref>Tyler Rogoway (21 Sep 2020) The Air Force's Secret Next Gen Air Dominance Demonstrator Isn't What You Think It Is
/ref> Note: DoD's Joint AI Center (JAIC) has convened 100 online participants from 13 countries to discuss how to use AI in a way that is consonant with their national ethical principles, termed the 'AI Partnership for Defense' in 2020.Col. Christopher Holshek, USA Ret. (19 August 2020) Expanding Multi-Domain Operations to Win Moral Competition
A recommendation —"integrate military-civilian physical and informational power"
Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (24 February 2020) DoD Adopts AI Ethics Principles — But How Will They Be Enforced?
/ref>Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (16 Sep 2020) Military AI Coalition Of 13 Countries Meets On Ethics
/ref> One possible application is to elevate the role of human pilots to mission commanders, leaving AIs as wingmen to perform as high-skill operators of low-cost robotic craft.Jordi Bo
(5 Mar 2021) Boeing's ‘“Loyal Wingman” makes maiden flight
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History

After the end of major operations in the
Global War on Terror The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...
the US Army emphasized overmatch in their modernization effort. In 2017 a task force was formed to modernize the Army. Its recommendation was to form the
Army Futures Command The United States Army Futures Command (AFC) is a United States Army command, designed as a public-private initiative, that runs modernization projects for the Army. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and was first commanded by General John M. ...
, to engage in systematic development of capabilities to overmatch its adversaries.When activated, the #USArmy Futures Command will have the overarching objective to achieve clear overmatch in future conflicts, making Soldiers and units more lethal to win the nation's wars, then return home safely.
/ref> In 2021 the 40th Chief of Staff of the Army identifiedDevon Suits (6 May 2021) Army senior leaders seek sustained, consistent funding in new budget
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Analysis

Overmatch has been criticized as unsustainable in the long term and requiring immense investments in the military and cutting-edge technologies.


See also

*
Air supremacy Aerial supremacy (also air superiority) is the degree to which a side in a conflict holds control of air power over opposing forces. There are levels of control of the air in aerial warfare. Control of the air is the aerial equivalent of comm ...
* Cauldron#Military tactic *
Full-spectrum dominance Full-spectrum dominance also known as full-spectrum superiority, is a military entity's achievement of control over all dimensions of the battlespace, effectively possessing an overwhelming diversity of resources in such areas as terrestrial, a ...
*
OODA loop The OODA loop is the cycle ''observe–orient–decide–act'', developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Boyd applied the concept to the combat operations process, often at the operational level during ...
* Overkill


References

{{Reflist Military theory