Tactical Overmatch by Design: Acquisition Engineering for Smart Warfare

Abstract

The modern battlefield is evolving under the influence of rapid technological advances in wireless communications and drone systems. These systems are no longer just support tools—they form the core of tactical superiority. This paper proposes a unified framework for achieving tactical overmatch through deliberate acquisition engineering. Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and Israel-Gaza, it details the convergence of software-defined networks, loitering munitions, and autonomous targeting systems. The argument is built around the thesis that acquisition reform must be engineered for speed, modularity, and interoperability. Recommendations center on digital twin validation, AI assurance protocols, zero-based budgeting, and dynamic field feedback loops. Only by redesigning the acquisition process to reflect the speed of modern warfare can the Department of Defense guarantee dominance in future conflicts.