Vulnerability Assessment

A vulnerability assessment of a combat vehicle uses modeling and simulation (M&S) to predict the vehicle’s vulnerability to a given enemy attack. The system-level output of the M&S is the probability that the vehicle’s mobility is degraded as a result of the attack. The M&S models this system-level phenomenon by decoupling the attack scenario into a hierarchy of sub-systems. Each sub-system addresses a specific scientific problem, such as the fracture dynamics of an exploded munition, or the ballistic resistance provided by the vehicle’s armor....

M&S validation is critical for ensuring credible weapon system evaluations. System-level evaluations of Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) rely on the Advanced Joint Effectiveness Model (AJEM) and Full-Up System Level (FUSL) testing to assess AFV vulnerability. This report reviews and improves upon one of the primary methods that analysts use to validate AJEM, called the Component Damage Vector (CDV) Method. The CDV Method compares vehicle components that were damaged in FUSL testing to simulated representations of that damage from AJEM....