In the ever-evolving landscape of military technology, the quest for enhancing the survivability of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) against missile threats has taken a significant leap forward. A recent study, spearheaded by Graham V. Weinberg and Mitchell Kracman, introduces a groundbreaking procedure to quantify the survivability of AFV teams when faced with missile attacks. This research not only builds on previous work but also extends it to account for multiple missile threats, offering a robust framework for defence strategy.
The study focuses on collaborative active protection systems (APS), specifically those that employ high-power radio frequency directed energy weapons (DEWs). These systems are designed to intercept and neutralise incoming missiles, thereby safeguarding the AFVs. The research demonstrates how the analysis of a single missile attack can be expanded to encompass multiple threats. This is achieved through the introduction of a jump stochastic process, where each state represents the number of missiles defeated at any given time.
The core of the analysis lies in the consideration of sojourn times—the duration a system remains in a particular state before transitioning to another. By examining these sojourn times, researchers can derive transition probabilities of an auxiliary stochastic process. These probabilities are then linked to the likelihood of detecting and disrupting missile threats. The sum of these sojourn times provides a quantitative measure of the team’s survivability at any given moment.
The practical implications of this research are profound. By understanding and predicting the performance of AFV teams against missile attacks, military strategists can make more informed decisions about deployment and defence strategies. The study’s focus on high-energy lasers for AFV defence underscores the growing interest and potential of directed energy weapons in modern warfare.
The methodology outlined in the paper offers a comprehensive approach to evaluating the effectiveness of collaborative APS. It provides a mathematical framework that can be adapted to various scenarios, making it a versatile tool for defence planners. The research not only advances the field of military technology but also highlights the critical role of stochastic processes in modelling complex defence systems.
As the defence sector continues to innovate, the insights gained from this study will be invaluable. The ability to predict and enhance the survivability of AFV teams against multiple missile threats represents a significant advancement in military capability. This research paves the way for further exploration and development of collaborative active protection systems, ensuring that armed forces are better equipped to face the challenges of modern combat. Read the original research paper here.