System Engineering Approach to Assessing Integrated Survivability

Abstract : Land platforms are increasingly required to carry out a wide range of roles in support of very diverse operations ranging from high intensity conflict to Operations Other Than War (OOTW). The acceptance of casualties is low and reduction is a strategic political imperative. As a result, crew/platform survivability is important to mission effectiveness and success. Methods for achieving survivability need to be objectively assessed and prioritized to meet cost constraints. Integrated Survivability (IS) assessments and modelling are key capabilities to perform this task. The United States Army defines survivability traditionally as the capability of the system and crew to avoid or withstand a man-made hostile environment without suffering an abortive impairment of their ability to accomplish their designated missioni The Army uses a well defined and established process to assess SoS survivability with verified and validated analytical tools to optimize platform and system design for survivability. This paper will define the modelling tools and evaluation process for manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems to assess integrated design for survivability for ground vehicle platforms. However, the US Army has moved towards a System of Systems (SoS) engagement and protection requirements with the traditional definition of survivability inadequate to describe the collaborative aspect of deployed systems. Survivability is more accurately defined by four levels: mission survivability; functional survivability; platform survivability; and personnel survivability. Personnel survivability defines the integration of the survivability of the individual soldier and the how the system affects the soldier's survivability. Platform survivability is the ability of a platform to avoid or withstand a man-made hostile environment without suffering an abortive impairment of its ability to contribute to the collaborative accomplishment of the SoS designated mission.