AN OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS ON MANNED-UNMANNED TEAMING USING WEAPONIZED UNMANNED VEHICLES IN URBAN TERRAIN
Loading...
Authors
Phua, Boon Kiat
Subjects
manned-unmanned teaming
MUM-T
unmanned ground vehicles
UGV
unmanned aerial vehicles
UAV
weaponized unmanned
urban operations
UO
MUM-T
unmanned ground vehicles
UGV
unmanned aerial vehicles
UAV
weaponized unmanned
urban operations
UO
Advisors
Lucas, Thomas W.
Hernandez, Alejandro S.
Date of Issue
2022-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
In recent years, militaries have strengthened efforts to integrate unmanned technologies to improve manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities. As some countries’ fighting-age populations are decreasing, militaries are turning to readily available, cost efficient, and sophisticated unmanned technologies. MUM-T holds great potential not only to alleviate manpower shortages in militaries, but also to improve combat capabilities. This thesis studies the effectiveness of MUM-T at the frontline, down to infantry teams supporting offensive operations in urban terrain. An agent-based simulation is used to model a MUM-T combat operation with and without an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to support an infantry company. An analysis was conducted on more than 76,800 simulated battles. It was observed that MUM-T concepts could dramatically increase combat effectiveness, as assessed by increased enemy casualties. The UGV reloading time, weapon accuracy, and own force structure were also observed to significantly impact the infantry’s lethality and survivability. This analysis concludes that implementation of MUM-T at the small-unit tactical level has great potential to enhance overall combat performance. Moving forward, combat models could be integrated into future military exercises such that the findings from simulations can be verified and validated.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Systems Engineering (SE)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.