Optimal allocation and effectiveness of midcourse interceptors in a layered defense
Adaptive preferential employment of interceptors in midcourse ballistic missile defense is considered. The defense discriminates decoys, with such discrimination characterized by a K-factor, and determines optimal intercepts and salvo structure in shoot-look-shoot scenarios. The attacker's strategy to determine proper allocation of warheads to targets of varying value in the presence of a defense is also described. Representative results are presented for the effectiveness of the preferential midcourse defense by itself and in conjunction with a random-subtractive boost/deployment phase defense tier. Quality of discrimination is by far the strongest determinant of performance; the ability to perform a shoot-look-shoot is also important. Inventory requirements for midcourse and boost-phase defenses are determined for missions in which target value saved is the goal, for representative defense parameters. Based on these results, the midcourse tier appears to be a necessary component of a cost-effective defense. 4 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5817560
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-21788; ON: DE89013973
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
990500 -- Civilian Defense-- (-1987)
ARMS CONTROL
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
INTERCEPTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MISSILES
NATIONAL DEFENSE
OPTIMIZATION
SPACE WEAPONS
STATISTICS