LOGISTICS IN CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS

This report examines the transport and delivery of logistics in contested environments within the context of great-power competition (GPC). Across the Department of Defense (DOD), it is believed that GPC will strain our current supply lines beyond their capacity to maintain required warfighting capability. Current DOD efforts are underway to determine an appropriate range of platforms, platform quantities, and delivery tactics to meet the projected logistics demand in future conflicts. This report explores the effectiveness of various platforms and delivery methods through analysis in developed survivability, circulation, and network optimization models. Among other factors, platforms are discriminated by their radar cross-section (RCS), noise level, speed, cargo capacity, and self-defense capability. To maximize supply delivered and minimize the cost of losses, the results of this analysis indicate preference for utilization of well-defended convoys on supply routes where bulk supply is appropriate and smaller, and widely dispersed assets on shorter, more contested routes with less demand. Sensitivity analysis on these results indicates system survivability can be improved by applying RCS and noise-reduction measures to logistics assets.Director, Warfare Integration (OPNAV N9I)Major, Israel Defence ForcesCivilian, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, SingaporeCommander, Republic of Singapore NavyCommander, United States NavyCaptain, Singapore ArmyLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyMajor, Republic of Singapore Air ForceCaptain, United States Marine CorpsLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant, United States NavyCaptain, Singapore ArmyLieutenant Junior Grade, United States NavyCaptain, Singapore ArmyLieutenant Colonel, Republic of Singapore Air ForceApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite

DEVELOPMENT AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR MINE COUNTERMEASURE VESSELS IN THE EARLY DESIGN STAGE

With the evolving requirements of future mine countermeasure (MCM) operations, the operational capabilities of next-generation platforms must be sufficiently flexible to meet these changing needs. As the U.S. Navy's current and leading platform solutions to address rising threats continually evolve, their operational capabilities are either directly derived from or influenced by the platforms' architectural design parameters. Because of this mapping, traditional approaches of configuring operational systems around a vessel's architectural design may have limited flexibility to accommodate design revisions and may make such revisions costly and time consuming. Approaches centered around Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering have seen success as simulation and modeling tools to better link architectural vessel designs to operational requirements of various types of vessels. To further extend on the MBSE approach to MCM operational requirements, this thesis considers steps necessary to establish a relationship between MCM capabilities and platform design parameters. This thesis explores potential related trade-offs by conducting a sensitivity study of the MCM vessel design parameters and their effects on the operational capabilities of the vessel. Such an approach can serve as the basis for a methodology influencing early-stage vessel design choices, as dictated by mission operational requirements.Captain, Singapore ArmyApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite