The Minimization of Combat Aircraft Life Cycle Costs Through Conceptual Design Optimization

In an effort to permit the procurement of more cost-effective military equipment, a method has been developed to perform conceptual studies on combat aircraft, resulting in designs optimized for minimum Life Cycle Cost (LCC). Consequently, the design loop can be considered as being closed, allowing the automated production of a consistent set of cost and performance data for different aircraft solutions. The design engineer can thus make informed, unbiased, design decisions, leading to a more efficient use of shrinking defense budgets. The models and the optimization tool are described, and results of their implementation are presented.