A systems engineering approach to allocate resources between protection and sensors for ground systems for offensive operations in an urban environment

• Main Author: Foo, Ceying
• Other Authors: Nelson, Douglas
• Published: Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School 2014
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/43914

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === This thesis describes the effects of using unconventional armor, such as explosive reactive armor, active protection systems, signature management measures, and additional sensing capability in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle, to improve the survivability and performance of armored platforms in an urban environment during an offensive operation. Variations in the force structure of an armored unit are also examined. The variation in factors was performed using design of experiments, which generates combinations of different factors to be used in the modeling of the combat scenario using the Map Aware Non-Uniform Automata software. Regression analyses were performed on the results of the simulation using JMP Pro 10, and a combination of factors that were found to be significant were identified for further research and study. Partition tree analysis was also performed to identify the relative importance of the significant factor combinations with the identification of their respective thresholds. It was discovered that the thickness of conventional armor, the presence of explosive reactive armor, active protection systems, the mobility of the armored vehicles, and the presence a heavy force structure were important to the survivability and performance of the armored platforms. These insights are of importance to military commanders and planners.