Operational Research in Decision Making: Systems Engineering Methodologies Applied to Integrated Air Defense Design.

This paper demonstrates how operational research methodologies structure decision-making in systems engineering applied to integrated air defense. Using Capability Engineering, a critical gap is quantified: although the aggregate detection is higher (148 unique targets), the engagement capacity is structurally insufficient (5.28 targets per salvo), resulting in a Friction Factor of 0.0357 and a penetration probability of 97.19%. The analysis of alternatives via morphological composition systematically explores the solution space, comparing two architectural strategies: Advanced Loyal Wingman versus Simplified Air Miner. The rigorous application of operations research (Salvo Model, defense saturation analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and sensitivity analysis) allows quantitative comparative evaluation of the alternatives. The results demonstrate that the second alternative, although individually less effective, is strategically superior in contexts of limited resources, achieving equivalent aggregate effectiveness with 10 times lower investment (IEACR = 0.00974 versus 0.00108).