Optimal Allocation of Missiles Against Area and Point Defenses

Abstract

This paper considers the problem of allocating a given number of reliable offensive missiles of one type against reliable subtractive area and point defenses of known size and the cities protected by these defenses so as to maximize the total damage done to the cities. An integer nonlinear programming formulation of the problem is developed and a branch-and-bound algorithm for its solution is offered. Computational considerations are discussed and numerical results are given.