Distributed, Cooperative Planning and Automatic Optimization for Existing BMDS Engagement Planner.

The ultimate goal of this proposed effort is to improve the BMDS engagement planning capability by extending the current, advanced, intelligent midcourse engagement planning effort to the booster and terminal phases, mapping the planning onto the distributed command and control architecture, and providing meta-optimization to pre-address, off-line, possibly incorrect assumptions so a real-time adjustment can be made if required. The goals of the Phase I research are to understand the current and potential booster and terminal phase engagement planning space for the BMDS; investigate distributed environment and C2BMC integration requirements; elaborate the heuristics, algorithms and techniques for improved boost and terminal engagement planning, cooperative planning, and automatic optimization of scheduler parameters for changed assumptions; further prove the feasibility of the techniques through prototype development, and develop the Phase II system design and high-level Phase III design. Lockheed Martin has already expressed interest in transitioning the proposed technology (see attached letter). Ultimately the improved missile defense engagement planning capability will allow better quality plans; faster planning; larger, more complex threats; additional defense system capabilities; increased planning problem space; and better accuracy, reliability, maintainability, growth potential, and adaptability of the engagement planning system.