50 THE DEVELOPMENT OF WEAPONS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 



2-3 AIRCRAFT CARRIER TASK FORCE AIR DEFENSE 

 SYSTEM 



The fixed elements of the carrier task force environment, the target 

 complex, and the operational requirement provide the basis for the deriva- 

 tion of radar requirements. We shall assume that all elements of the task 

 force air defense system are fixed, except the following: 



1. The Airborne Early Warning Aircraft Radar and Data Processing 

 System, 



2. The Airborne Interceptor Radar and Fire-Control System. 



Referring to the system study plan of Fig. 2-2, the first task is to de- 

 termine: (1) what is known about this weapons system, and (2) what 

 remains to be known or understood. 



The overall weapons system is broken down into four major operating 

 elements: (1) Ship Weapons System, (2) AEW Aircraft System, (3) Inter- 

 ceptor Aircraft System, and (4) Air-to-Air Missile System. The character- 

 istics of each element — and the interrelationship between elements — 

 which exert a sensitive influence on the overall system performance are 

 shown in Figs. 2-3 through 2-6. The known characteristics are checked; 

 graphical or tabular description of these appear in the same figures. 



The unknown (unchecked) characteristics constitute the items a knowl- 

 edge of which must be gained from the system study. These include the 

 characteristics of the AEW and AI radar systems; they also include 

 important interrelationships among the various system elements, known 

 and unknown. For example, the individual characteristics of the interceptor 

 aircraft and the air-to-air missile are known; the manner in which these two 

 elements combine and interrelate with the interceptor fire-control system 

 to produce a weapons system capability is not known and must be derived 

 by study. 



The list of sensitive parameters is not complete. At the outset of a 

 system study it is not possible to name all the parameters that may be 

 important. As more is learned about the system through study, these must 

 be added and considered in their proper relationship with other parameters. 



Carrier Task Force Weapons System (Fig. 2-3). This system 

 includes two aircraft carriers and three missile-firing cruisers in the dis- 

 position shown. (This configuration is, of course, fictitious and is used to 

 illustrate the possible elements of this problem. Elements of the task force 

 not germane to this example are excluded.) 



Two large carriers constitute the main ofi^ensive and defensive elements. 

 The carriers are separated (5-20 n. mi.) for tactical reasons. Mass attacks 



