A Scenario Based Methodology for the Selection of Non-Lethal Weapons
Abstract
The allocation of finite resources to develop non-lethal weapons for deployment as effective military assets is a difficult task considering that there exists a myriad of potentially promising technologies. Each proposed weapon has operational, logistical, and developmental advantages and disadvantages, which often do not appear self-consistent. Attempts to invent a common figure-of-merit often fail because it is difficult to avoid subjective criteria and evaluation. Ideally, an objective, consistent weapons selection methodology is required. We have developed a scenario based requirements methodology that allows us to highlight inter-scenario commonalties among the weapons considered. We have evaluated some thirty different anti-personnel and anti-material weapons considering over a dozen scenario based requirements including such criteria as effective range, weather susceptibility, cost, logistics and training. A selection matrix considering a requirement weight factor within a given scenario (e.g. MOUT, riot control) and performance comparison allows us to define overall weapon effectiveness within the context of the given scenario. Surprisingly, this scenario based analysis allows for an objective consensus evaluation of seemingly dissimilar weapons systems. This system engineering approach commences with a functional decomposition of non-lethal capability and includes many subsystems, components, parts, and their tactical interactions. We seek to look for a complete solution, a solution that involves logistics, weapons suite, TTP (Tactics, Training & Procedures), C(4)ISR, and life cycle cost. System engineering emphasizes integration from the beginning; thus avoiding stovepipes and sub-optimization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA351650
Entities
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School