An analysis of operational employment for the SH-60B Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System Mk III helicopter|xKenneth L. C. Unger.

Abstract

The SH-60B Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Systems (LAMPS) Mk III helicopter is currently employed with few or no weapon systems which preclude it from being a multi-mission capable weapon platform in a littoral warfare scenario. This thesis provides a decision aid for effectively configuring a weapon load for a variety of weapon systems available to the SH-6OB to allow it to be truly multi-mission capable. An introduction to the SH-6OB LAMPS Mk III helicopter is provided to assist the reader in understanding the helicopter's capabilities. The SH-6OB helicopter's missions and weapons are discussed in detail and the decision making tools and techniques used in this thesis are presented to the reader. A configuration decision model is constructed using utility of a weapon and the configuration cost of the weapon. A decision model is developed for determining the weapon configuration for the SH-60B if the mission assigned to the helicopter is not known when the helicopter is configured with weapons. The model incorporates the helicopter's weapons configuration when the assigned mission is known. The model provides a recommended weapon configuration for the SH-6OB helicopter based on weapon effectiveness and configuration cost.