An Effect Based Approach to the Application of Weapon Systems

Nowadays, western armed forces more and more use the effects of their actions as a starting point for operations. Concepts such as Effect Based (Approach to) Operations, Comprehensive Approach and others display this evolution. When it comes to weapon systems, the armed forces struggle to use these concepts and to translate them into guidelines. Therefore, TNO tries to set up a methodology to efficiently use effects as a starting point to answer questions related to the acquisition and use of weapon systems. One part of the TNO work is focused on designing a quick and simple method to match multiple weapon systems to multiple tasks. The method matches the effects that are required by the tasks to the effects that can be reached by using the weapon system. The method gives way to tools, for instance: Weapon Selection Tool: for commanders to make a weapon selection before performing an operation, Flexibility Rating: for rating a weapon system on flexibility before acquisition, Quick Task Scanner: for quickly scanning the inventory of weapon systems to find the most appropriate one for a novel task. The method is able to deal with requirements that can be considered not-primary, such as collateral damage, weapon wear and environmental damage. These secondary effects, together with the primary effects, are used to rate combinations of weapon systems and tasks. In such a way, one can reach a ranking of weapon system – task combinations within a split second. The method has been implemented in a software tool for demonstration purposes. 1.0 BACKGROUND The RNLA sees rapidly changing ways of operation. Out of area missions are carried out in different parts of the world, in different climates, with varying environments, ranging from deserts to urban areas and with varying attrition levels. In this respect operational requirements on weapon systems are ever changing. The variation in theatres and fast changing tasks also pose changes on the requirements. Effect Based Approach to Operations (EBAO) also poses changes in requirements. In EBAO military operations are only one level of concerted actions, which range from political to informational aimed at obtaining a certain effect. More and more the focus is on changing behaviour in other ways and on reducing generating secondary unnecessary effects. This will also change requirements on weapon systems. The consequence is an increasing complexity in the decision process, trying to balance all kinds of alternative effect bringers. In the current processes, experiences and lessons learned form the main basis Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE OCT 2009 2. REPORT TYPE N/A 3. DATES COVERED 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE An Effect Based Approach to the Application of Weapon Systems 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) TNO Defence, Security and Safety P.O.Box 45 NL 2288 AA RIJSWIJK 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release, distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES See also ADA562565. RTO-MP-SAS-080 Decision Support Methodologies for Acquisition of Military Equipment (Methodologies d’aide a la decision pour l’acquisition d’ equipements militaires). Meeting Proceedings of Systems Analysis and Studies Panel (SAS) Specialists Meeting held in Brussels, Belgium on 22 and 23 October 2009., The original document contains color images. 14. ABSTRACT Nowadays, western armed forces more and more use the effects of their actions as a starting point for operations. Concepts such as Effect Based (Approach to) Operations, Comprehensive Approach and others display this evolution. When it comes to weapon systems, the armed forces struggle to use these concepts and to translate them into guidelines. Therefore, TNO tries to set up a methodology to efficiently use effects as a starting point to answer questions related to the acquisition and use of weapon systems. One part of the TNO work is focused on designing a quick and simple method to match multiple weapon systems to multiple tasks. The method matches the effects that are required by the tasks to the effects that can be reached by using the weapon system. The method gives way to tools, for instance: 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT SAR 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 8 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT unclassified b. ABSTRACT unclassified c. THIS PAGE unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 An Effect Based Approach to the Application of Weapon Systems 6 2 RTO-MP-SAS-080 for creating requirements – a basis that doesn’t allow for an objective adjustment to new situations. Moreover, the requirements generating process is long and time consuming whilst external factors often necessitate a fast and flexible process. To handle rapidly changing tasks and the increasing complexity there is a need for a quick, objective method, which helps to determine whether a weapon system is suited for its task, considering all kinds of constraints imposed by this complexity. In this paper such method is described. The method was originally aimed at obtaining supportive methods and tools to detect and capture new, innovative ways of using weapon systems. E.g. to use an anti-tank system for wall breaching. 2.0 DECISION SUPPORT METHOD Because of the chang es described above, the decision for the deployment of a weapon system needs to be done taking into account a much broader view, with many more parameters. The complex decision process clearly needs supportive methods and tools. A decision support method has been derived on how to apply weapon systems in various contexts. The purpose of the method is to relate a set of weapon systems to a set of military tasks. To be able to assess whether a weapon system is suited for a task, both weapon systems and tasks need to be defined in a way that comparison is possible. For each task and each weapon system an estimation needs to be made to what extent they match. To enable the estimation tasks are described as a set of parameters, which give the objectives of the task in terms of required effects on certain targets or other objects. On the other side of the balance weapon systems need to be described in a similar way with similar parameters. The method uses a generic approach to describe weapon systems and effects. For weapon systems and task effects generic normalised descriptions have been derived which enable a comparison between task effects to obtain and weapon systems to obtain the effect. The method uses the normalised description to relate weapon system capabilities to a set of tasks. The method comprises two parts. A modelling part and an analysis part. The modelling provides the basic ingredients for the method. An effect based approach to the application of weapon systems comprises several basic elements: effects, application and weapon systems. Effects can be described in many ways. An effect is defined in this study as a change of state. The situation usually comprises an object or a target for which a state change is required, e.g. a running insurgent who needs to be stopped. A weapon system is used to realise such state change: an interaction.