Team optimal signaling strategies in air combat

• Published in: IEEE transactions on systems, man and cybernetics. Part A, Systems and humans man and cybernetics. Part A, Systems and humans, 2006-07, Vol.36 (4), p.643-660
• Main Authors: Virtanen, K., Hamalainen, R.P., Mattila, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace electronics; Air combat; Airborne radar; Aircraft; Aircraft expert systems; communication systems; Computer programs; Computer simulation; Cryptography; decision analysis; Decision making; Expert systems; Fighter aircraft; Game theory; incomplete information; Military aircraft; military information systems; Optimization; Pilots; Relays; Software design; Strategy; team decision making; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 1083-4427; 2168-2216; 1558-2426; 2168-2232
• DOI: 10.1109/TSMCA.2005.851347

Modern fighter aircraft are equipped with a data link system for relaying encrypted messages containing information on the states of friendly or hostile aircraft within a team of friendly aircraft. During a many-versus-many air combat, only the most important and essential information must be transmitted in order to achieve the best possible situation awareness of pilots. In this paper, we introduce a prioritization approach for solving the team optimal signaling strategy referring to the best sequence of relayed information with respect to the overall goals of the friendly pilots. The approach is based on a value function that captures the preferences of the pilots and prioritizes the existing information. Uncertainty about the states of the aircraft as well as about incomplete preference statements is incorporated into the prioritization by utilizing interval analysis. We also describe a software that is designed for simulating the evolution of team members' information and trajectories in an air-combat game. The prioritization approach is illustrated by numerical examples