Value of area defense impact-point prediction in a two-layer defense with perfect attackers and defenders. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6811993

Finn, M V

A nationwide target data base is considered, containing targets of differing values. Each target is defended by a number of terminal interceptors corresponding to its value. Collections of targets are defended by area interceptors of longer range than the terminal interceptors. (The terminal interceptors are endoatmospheric and the area interceptors are exoatmospheric). The paper determines the effect of preferential as opposed to random subtractive area defense. For any specified percent of target damage value, the number of RVs required in the presence and the absence of impact point prediction is found. For the cases examined more than twice as many RVs can be required if the defense has impact point prediction. The value of maneuvering RVs to the attacker is the mirror image of the value of impact point prediction to the defender. If the RVs change direction after the exoatmospheric engagement, that engagement might as well have been random subtractive. Thus, the paper addresses both the defender's value of having impact-point prediction and the attacker's value of denying impact-point prediction.

• Research Organization: Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6811993
• Report Number(s): AD-A-175219/5/XAB; IDA-P-1902
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350000* -- Arms Control-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
MILITARY STRATEGY
NATIONAL DEFENSE
OPTIMIZATION
REENTRY VEHICLES
SPACE VEHICLES
SPACE WEAPONS
VEHICLES