<p>This project was initiated in an attempt to address the current training shortfall in the Maritime Patrol Aviation community,brought about by the collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent reductions in U.S. military funding. Commercial personal computer equipment was investigated as a possible supplement to operational flights and existing training devices. A life cycle analysis was performed to thoroughly explore all stages of design, development, and implementation. System requirements were defined, and applied to a conceptual design. A new approach to hardware and software maintenance also was proposed. The report concludes with a program plan detailed enough to initiate an efficient acquisition program for the proposed training device. / Master of Science

Thesis (MEngTestandEvaluation)--University of South Australia, 2001.

Well-publicized lost opportunities for U.S. and coalition air forces to strike enemy leadership targets in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrate the importance of Time Sensitive Targeting. How do we "pair" the weapon and weapons delivery platform with their target? The available platforms (aircraft, manned or unmanned) may be on the ground in an alert status, loitering airborne, or on their way to attack other targets. The problem is compounded by the facts that we actually wish to (a) create multiple strike packages simultaneously, (b) recompose existing strike packages that are disrupted by the new plans, (c) minimize such disruptions, (d) satisfy minimum kill probabilities, and (e) avoid the attrition of tasked assets. This thesis develops an automated, optimizing, heuristic decision aid, "RAPT-OR", that rapidly revises a current Air Taking Order (ATO) to meet the requirements above. Using a set-packing model, RAPT-OR, an ATO near optimally, on a desktop PC, in less than two seconds, for a typical scenario with 40 aircraft, four new targets and hundreds of potential strike packages. RAPT-OR allows decision makers the ability of adjusting risk acceptance in the formulation of possible courses of action by manipulating friendly attrition importance in formulating a solution.

This research was conducted in association with Naval Warfare Development Command (NWDC) requests to update Unmanned Vehicle Tactical Memorandum TM-3-22- 5-SW. The research identified and discussed significant USV manning considerations such as source ratings and manpower qualities to pilot, operate sensors, support USV electronics, and the manpower implications associated with various weapons systems alternatives. In addition, this research described several existing and notional USV tactics, as well as a discussion about the existing N75 and N76 primary and secondary mission areas USV operations may support. The methodology consisted of a literature review of USV test reports; USV Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration briefs; USV Concept of Operations; fleet lessons learned; the USV tactical memorandum; Naval manpower instructions, and manuals; Weapons Tactical, Field, and Training Manuals; Military Utility Assessments; search of books, magazines, and manpower theses. The research found that determining manpower qualities and standard operating procedures will remain a dynamic process until USV equipment is standardized. The research also showed USV launch and recovery is more manpower intensive than that of a standard RHIB. Gunners Mates (GM) and Aviation Ordnancemen (AO) are potential source ratings to support USV Hellfire and Javelin missile modules. The Navy should establish a GM Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) to support Hellfire and Javelin or add these weapons to existing GM NECs. Electronics Technicians (ET), Fire Controlmen (FC), and Fire Control Technicians (FT) are potential source ratings for USV electrical/electronic support. FC and FT are potential source ratings to support the Remote Operated Small Arms Mount. This research found additional warfighting capabilities can be gained by equipping surface warfare vessels with USV's without any negative effects to primary or secondary warfare missions. Overall, USVs enhanced designed capabilities of Naval warships and directly support a capabilities based Navy.

The free electron laser (FEL) is proposed to meet the Navy's need for a speed-of-light high energy laser weapon capable of engaging a variety of targets including anti-ship cruise missiles, small boats, and theater ballistic missiles. A key attribute of FELs is good optical beam quality; in other words, they operate in only a few of the lowest-order transverse Gaussian modes. For weapons applications, a good mode quality is desired because it delivers the highest intensity on target ensuring a high level of lethality. A few higher-order modes can arise from the interaction of the electron beam with the optical beam, or from misalignments of the electron beam or resonator mirrors. High intensity on FEL optics can lead to mirror distortion due to heating and insufficient cooling of the mirror substrate. Mirror distortions, including astigmatism, can cause higher-order modes to appear affecting FEL performance. Therefore, it is important to quantify these higher-order modes because doing so uniquely identifies the optical field and may allow for corrective optics to single out the best modes for FEL lethality. This thesis will review free electron laser theory, and for the first time develop analytical solutions to quantify Hermite-Gaussian higher-order modes, develop a diagnostic for modal analysis, and determine the tolerance limits on mirror distortions.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2003. / Title from title screen (viewed Oct. 10, 2003). "March 2003." Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-102). Also issued in paper format.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--RAND Graduate School, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2004. / Title from title screen (viewed June 28, 2005). "June 2004." Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-61). Also issued in paper format.

Thesis (M.S. in Program Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2002. / Thesis advisor(s): David F. Matthews, Donald C. Barker. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-51). Also available online.