2-6] THE SYSTEM CONCEPT 57 



point of allowable minimum approach of the interceptor to the target 

 aircraft. 



The number of target aircraft (20) and their spacing (5 n. mi.) is charac- 

 teristic of a raid designed to present a difficult problem to the model air 

 defense system. 



In an actual problem, a number of different target complexes would have 

 to be defined in this way. The behavior of the system would be analyzed 

 for the several inputs and the design parameters chosen on the basis of the 

 response to all expected target complexes with emphasis on the most 

 effective configuration. For simplicity in this example, we will confine our 

 attention to the single problem defined; however, the sensitivity of system 

 performance to changes in this input (i.e. target speed and number) will be 

 examined. 



2-5 THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT: MISSION 

 ACCOMPLISHMENT GOALS (FIG. 2-8) 



The operational requirement defines a military problem which must be 

 solved by the combination of known and unknown weapons system 

 elements previously described. Bases for judging the military usefulness 

 of any system proposed as an answer to the operational requirement are 

 also shown. 



2-6 THE SYSTEM CONCEPT 



The operational requirement defined a weapons system problem. The 

 procedures for solution of this problem are determined by the system con- 

 cept or logic. 



Within the framework of the system elements already defined, the 

 system logic for the interceptor system may be developed by listing the 

 sequence of events which lead to the interception of the target by the 

 missile-armed interceptor. The following events would normally be 

 expected to occur in sequence: 



a. Early warning detection 



b. Identification 



c. Threat evaluation 



d. Weapon assignment 



e. Interceptor direction or vectoring 

 /. AI radar search and detection 



g. AI radar acquisition 



h. Airborne weapons system tracking control and missile launching 



i. Air-to-air missile guidance 



j. Missile detonation and target destruction (without self-destruction) 



