The Dynamic Weapon-Target Assignment Problem

Abstract : We present a progress report on our recent results on the dynamic version of the Weapon to Target Assignment (WTA) problem. In this paper we will present result for the Asset-Based problem. In the static Asset-Based WTA problem, the offense launches missiles at valuable assets of the defense. The defense must assign its weapons to these missiles so as to minimize the damage they incur. In the dynamic version, this allocation is done in time stages such that the outcomes of the previous engagements can be used in making future assignments. We will provide a suboptimal algorithm for the Static Asset-Based WTA problem for the case of a single class of defense weapons. We will also propose a heuristic for the dynamic version of the problem. Numerical results will be provided to show that a dynamic strategy offers a significant cost improvement over a static one.