Hybrid Tri-Objective Optimization of F-15 Fleet Modernization Scheduling

Abstract

The F-15 weapons system is vital to the Air Forces efforts to obtain air supremacy during conflict. Originally produced almost 50 years ago, technological advancement through systems modifications is necessary to ensure the Eagles lethality and survivability against next-generation adversarial threats. The F-15 Systems Program Office faces challenges to plan aircraft inductions for five fleet modernization programs. Optimal induction schedules are developed using binary-integer linear programming models. Diverse constraints such as manpower, equipment, modification kit availability, minimum operational flight levels, and integration of scheduled depot maintenance reveal that no feasible schedule exists. Two competing objectives representing the value of fully modernized airframes and the additional workload associated with modifications are explored using the weighted sums method. To enable model solvability, penalties are associated with constraint relaxations with an aggregate penalty term is incorporated into the objective function. Implementing value focused decision analysis techniques, a fleet hierarchy is establishes aircraft precedence for instances having scarce resources shared amongst multiple fighter jets. Sensitivity analysis is employed to examine impacts of various operationally realistic future scenarios

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