Constrained Target Clustering for Military Targeting Process

Constrained target clustering (CTC) is proposed to support the targeting decision-making in the network centric warfare environment. When area targets are detected by sensors, it is required to decide the points at which a missile or bomb is aimed to achieve operational goals. CTC can determine the optimal numbers and positions of aiming points by transforming the targeting problem into clustering-based optimisation problems. The CTC formulations include objective functions and constraints in consideration of area targets, protected objects, target-level background information, lethal radius, and required damage rate. The numerical example shows how to apply the CTC formulation given a sample data set. In order to compare the effects of different constraints, the demonstration explores from an unconstraint problem to constrained problems by adding constraints. The results show that CTC can effectively decide the aiming points with consideration of both targets and capabilities of friendly weapons, and serve as a targeting decision support system in the network centric warfare environment.