Optimizing fire allocation in a NCW-type model

TL;DR

This paper develops a non-linear Lanchester model for NCW-type combat and formulates an optimization strategy for Blue force fire allocation, considering Red's supply chain and threat levels, with numerical validation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel non-linear Lanchester model for NCW-type scenarios and derives an optimal fire allocation strategy considering supply chain threats.

Findings

Optimal fire allocation strategy derived and proved.

Threat rates guide decision-making for Blue force targeting.

Numerical experiments validate theoretical results.

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a non-linear Lanchester model of NCW-type and investigate an optimization problem for this model, where only the Red force is supplied by several supply agents. Optimal fire allocation of the Blue force is sought in the form of a piece-wise constant function of time. A threatening rate is computed for the Red force and each of its supply agents at the beginning of each stage of the combat. These rates can be used to derive the optimal decision for the Blue force to focus its firepower to the Red force itself or one of its supply agents. This optimal fire allocation is derived and proved by considering an optimization problem of number of Blue force troops. Numerical experiments are included to demonstrate the theoretical results.