SAN DIEGO– The head of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) admitted Project Overmatch capabilities have expanded to more Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and are making connections to some allies.
“So we did a lot of testing on fielding of systems on Vinson. Vinson is deployed with our capabilities. And we certainly have moved on and fielded it on additional striker groups. It’s never something that we’re done with, where it’s a constant learning and a constant improving process,” Rear Adm. Douglas Small said Feb. 14 during the WEST 2024 conference, co-hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute and AFCEA.
The secretive Project Overmatch seeks to build a new naval operational infrastructure to have manned and unmanned forces operate with a common operating picture to match sensors and shooters. It is also the Navy’s contribution to the overall Department of Defense’ Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) effort to better connect all the military’s networks, sensors and shooters and sensors.
Last year, former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said the system was testing in “full swing” with the eight ships in the Vinson CSG off the coast of California, with plans to later scale it up (Defense Daily, April 3, 2023).
Then by June, Gilday said Project Overmatch would expand into other parts of Pacific forces first, like 7th Fleet, and also allies and partners like Australia, the U.K. and France (Defense Daily, June 8, 2023).
In 2022, James Downey, then rear admiral and program executive officer for aircraft carriers, confirmed the Navy was looking to introduce Project Overmatch to four carriers. Downey now serves as a vice admiral and is commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (Defense Daily, Jan. 25, 2022).
Small also noted Project Overmatch is “in the final throes” of an arrangement with the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K.
“We could certainly work around the world with allies and partners. [Command and control] at its heart has to be an allied partner effort,” he continued.
He also confirmed that they are now able to deliver over-the-air capability and software updates through Project Overmatch.
“So we did demos years ago, where we were able to show that it was possible – but in terms of doing it as a matter of course, that’s come within the last probably year and a half or so.”
Small said the ships do not need to be near a port, but they can get the updates over a landline while in port or while at sea via satellite.
“We made tremendous headway. The ability to deliver updates, software over-the-air–you can imagine the amount of change that had to go on from the entire value chain and how you deliver capability. There’s been a lot of really good work on that.”