Weapon System Phasing for Ready Forces

A ready force is defined as one designed to have a decisive capability in a short war in which the decision is reached before reserves and production capability can supplement the forces existing at the time hostilities begin. It is assumed that annual expenditures to equip, train, maintain and operate the ready force are constant. Within this constraint, it is desired to attain maximum effectiveness by balancing quality against quantity of weapons. Maximum quantity of weapons would be attained by selecting one type, and producing this type indefinitely, in view of decreasing unit production costs with number produced. However, rapid advancement of the state-of-the-art creates weapon obsolescence and, periodically, old weapons must be phased out and new weapons phased in. Maximum quality can be attained at the expense of quantity by very small production runs with frequent introduction of new weapons. The optimum program of effective weapons in sufficient quantity represents a compromise between the two extremes. A model incorporating the variables of production cost, number of weapons produced, operating cost, growth of the state-of-the-art, effectiveness and budgetary limits is developed for a very simple model of warfare, and the relations among the variables for maximum force effectiveness are determined.