Advanced Naval Surface fire support weapon employment against mobile targets

Abstract

Key threat trends have identified shortfalls in Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), a mission area that is undergoing rapid evolution. The Navy's ability to effectively provide sea-based fire support to ground forces is profoundly challenged by mobile and reduced dwell time targets. Furthermore, longer range enemy weapon systems, which must be destroyed at greater ranges prior to their engagement of friendly forces, will make NSFS timeliness a difficult proposition. To overcome these threat trends, the United States is developing sophisticated weapons that promise increased lethality, greater ranges and improved responsiveness. However, the development of robust firing policies to ensure effective weapon utilization has lagged behind the hardware. Existing computer models and simulations have not addressed the question of NSFS gun/missile firing policy. This thesis develops the Naval Surface Fire Support Simulation (NSFSSim) model, a discrete-event simulation that serves as an analysis tool to determine favorable firing policies for future NSFS gun and missile systems in support of determining the appropriate NSFS weapons mix. NSFSSim models ships and their associated NSFS weapons in counterbattery and call fire missions against mobile, reduced dwell time targets. Exploratory analysis using NSFSSim yields useful insights, and the component-based architecture underlying the model provides significant flexibility for further analysis