Applications of Game Theory in Fighter Versus Bomber Combat

Abstract

The theory of games offers a valuable framework in which to evaluate future or proposed weapons systems. These evaluations are generally based upon the computed performance of the various weapons systems in a typical combat situation. The computation of this performance invariably involves the specification of certain tactics which are relatively easy to change by either combatant. It is reasonable to assume that these combatants would be “rational” in the game-theoretic sense. Although the specific type of weapons systems discussed here are those of individual aircraft, the concepts are directly applicable to other systems. However, for clarity of exposition we shall not refer to any of these generalizations. This paper was prepared for, and portions were presented at the First Annual Meeting of the Operations Research Society in Cleveland, Ohio, May 16, 1953. Operations Research, ISSN 0030-364X, was published as Journal of the Operations Research Society of America from 1952 to 1955 under ISSN 0096-3984.