Battle Management System (BMS): An Optimization for Military Decision Makers

Military commanders are continuously faced with the problem of choosing between multiple courses of action (COA) based on current intelligence. The Battle Management System (BMS) is an event-based simulation that optimizes each Blue force move based on the anticipated loss by the Red force from that move, tempered by the anticipated loss to Blue's own force. Specifically, the Blue (Offensive) commander must choose to send forces along alternative routes to the objective given his intelligence about Red (Defense) force disposition. Each combination of forces positioned on East and West routes is referred to as a Course of Action (COA). He then has opportunities to engage or continue to advance without engagement at several event points along the way which occur when his sensors and weapons come into range of Red. Similarly, Red can choose to engage or not engage each time the advancing Blue force enters an engagement envelop for a different weapon system. Blue advances until the forces are in physical contact (Range = 0).