What is the primary objective of military deception?

The primary objective of military deception is to mislead the enemy regarding one's capabilities or intentions. This strategic tool aims to create confusion and uncertainty in the adversary's decision-making process by manipulating their perception of the battlefield. Effective military deception can lead the enemy to make poor tactical or strategic choices, thereby enhancing the chances of success for one's own forces. By making the enemy believe one thing while concealing the truth, such as actual troop movements, strengths, or planned operations, commanders can exploit vulnerabilities and create opportunities for their forces.

Improving troop morale, providing accurate intelligence to allies, and enhancing the visibility of military operations are important considerations in military strategy, but they do not encapsulate the essence of military deception, which is specifically designed to obscure and misrepresent intent and capability to adversaries.