Critique of Air Defense Measures of Effectiveness

Military long-range planners are constantly presented with weapon systems studies that make use of measures of effectiveness. Understanding of the implications of the choice of specific measures on the conclusions drawn from a systems analysis study is, therefore, important for these military decision makers as it is for military system analysts. This paper examines measures of effectiveness used for air defense systems development and force composition purposes in the light of the criterion of air defense mission accomplishment. Both active and passive defenses are covered. Limitations in the validity of the various measures are shown and examples of erroneous conclusions based on the use of expedient measures of effectiveness are provided. In conclusion, measures appearing most meaningful for the evaluation of the effectiveness of a future composite air defense system against a composite threat are indicated.

Management Technology, ISSN 0542-4917, was published as a separate journal from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 it was merged into Management Science.