Optimizing the Cost-Effectiveness of Extending Effective Military Aircraft Service Life
Abstract
Service life extension programs (SLEPs) are becoming increasingly required for United States military aircraft. Aircraft platforms are often expected to operate for longer than their intended operational life as new weapon systems become delayed in development and deployment. Traditionally, a SLEP extends service life via airframe structural modifications or parts replacements to combat fatigue. However, depending on the life extension timeline and required aircraft quantities, it may become more cost effective to meet operational requirements by purchasing newly produced aircraft. This study develops an integer quadratic program to identify optimal life extension decisions via repairing and replacing aircraft. The objective of the model is to minimize the costs incurred to meet fleet requirements over a planning time horizon. The model is used to determine an optimal repair and replace schedule for the F/A-18E/F fleet. Results indicate that a hybrid plan, including both repair and replace decisions, is optimal for the Super Hornets, driven by compounding operations and maintenance costs incurred on older aircraft. Sensitivity analysis on key parameters such as increased service life per repair and repair cost further influence costs incurred during SLEP. This work produces a platform-agnostic decision model that can be used to aid program managers and systems engineers in defining program requirements to meet operational needs until new development platforms can be fielded.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1224528
Entities
People
- Kevin P. Buchanan
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School