Some approaches to ensure mission reliability of critical military equipment

Abstract

In a world shaped by geopolitical uncertainties and evolving threats, the pursuance of war readiness has become the defining objective of defence forces across the globe. The experiences derived from previous war situations emphasize that true war readiness goes beyond sheer numerical superiority, focusing on the reliable performance of critical military assets. An important aspect of qualifying a critical military system as war ready lies in meticulously evaluating three fundamental factors: the system's mission capability, operational availability, and mission reliability. Traditionally, the primary focus has been on attaining operational availability of mission-capable systems, which is constrained by its emphasis on the system's current state, without necessarily ensuring future mission success. As a result, defence forces are currently observing a significant change in focus from just ensuring the operational availability of critical systems to the broader measure of mission reliability. Scientifically supporting this shift, this thesis presents a series of research-based studies that investigate scientific approaches tailored to the unique requirements of the defence forces. Through a focused examination of these approaches, the thesis aims to provide insights into how defence forces can effectively ensure the mission reliability of their critical military systems in order to effectively attain war readiness in a manner that aligns with the distinct challenges and complexities of the military landscape.