// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Great Power Competition
Great Power Competition describes the strategic struggle between major global powers, like the United States, China, and Russia, for worldwide influence, economic dominance, and military superiority. This rivalry plays out across diplomacy, technology, and economics, generally stopping short of direct warfare.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Great Power Competition (GPC) is a military and international relations doctrine detailing the multi-domain, long-term strategic rivalry between globally influential nation-states, primarily the United States, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Russia. This competition utilizes all instruments of national power—diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME)—to shape the international order and secure geopolitical advantage below the threshold of direct armed conflict.
BACKGROUND
A great power is a nation, state or empire that, through its economic, political and military strength, is able to exert power and influence not only over its own region of the world, but beyond to others. A great power typically possesses military, economic, and diplomatic strength that it can wield to influence the actions of middle or small powers.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- GPC
- Strategic Competition
- Peer Competition
- Near-Peer Competition
- Interstate Rivalry
- Major Power Rivalry
USAGE NOTE
This term replaced the 'Global War on Terrorism' as the central organizing principle of U.S. national security and defense strategy around 2018.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Great Power Competition.
The U.S. Department of Defense's research and development agency responsible for developing emerging technologies for military use. DARPA's mission is to create and prevent strategic surprise, directly funding breakthrough research in areas like hypersonics, AI, and space to maintain a technological advantage over peer competitors.
The largest U.S. defense contractor, developing cornerstone platforms for great power competition, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, hypersonic weapon systems, and advanced space-based assets for missile warning and navigation (GPS).
A leading aerospace and defense company responsible for key strategic deterrent and power projection systems, such as the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the Sentinel (GBSD) ICBM program, both designed specifically for an era of great power competition.
Formerly Raytheon Technologies, RTX develops and produces advanced sensors, radars (like LTAMDS for Patriot), and precision weapons. Their work on hypersonic missiles, next-generation jamming, and networked command and control systems is critical for competing against technologically advanced adversaries.
A non-traditional defense company building AI-powered autonomous systems for national security. Their software platform, Lattice, is designed to rapidly integrate sensors and effectors to provide a unified battlefield picture, aiming to outpace the decision-making cycle of peer adversaries.
A software company specializing in big data analytics. Their Gotham and Foundry platforms are used by military and intelligence commands to integrate vast, disparate datasets for operational planning and intelligence analysis, a key enabler for understanding complex threats from state actors.
A multinational defense and aerospace company that develops critical electronic warfare systems, cyber security solutions, and advanced electronics for military platforms. Their technologies are essential for survivability and mission success in contested electromagnetic environments against sophisticated opponents.
The primary scientific research and development center for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. AFRL pioneers foundational research in areas vital to strategic competition, including directed energy, autonomous systems, hypersonics, and resilient space capabilities.