Planning tools for maritime operations

Abstract

The Commander Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (COMNAVSOUTH) tasked SACLANT Undersea Research Centre to conduct a study to optimize the employment of limited ASW assets in the protection of shipping in the Western Mediterranean. The uncertainty in the present strategic

situation made it very difficult to define scenarios for the study, so it was decided that the output from

the study should not focus on specific scenarios but provide 'advice' to operational commanders on the optimal use of ASW assets for any situation that might arise in the WESTMED. To achieve the

flexibility required, SACLANTCEN developed a computer based, decision support system called WESTMED Operational Planning Software. The prototype system was delivered to COMNAVSOUTH in April 1994 and after a year of testing, the final version was delivered in early 1995. The system was made user-friendly so that Naval planners can use it to answer their own questions. It is modular in

design so that modules can be used independently and to facilitate revision and flexibility of use

according to mission, sensor and threat. It is fast because much of the computation was done in advance. This report describes the rationale for the approach taken and the methodology used in developing the planning software. Each of the modules which make up the system are described and examples are given. Some ideas for future work are discussed.