COMPARATIVE COST AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MANNED AIRCRAFT AND GUIDED MISSILES IN AIR DEFENSE

The relative desirability of manned aircraft and guided missiles in air defense depends on the tactical environment as well as the performance characteristics of the weapon systems. The tactical environment includes the size of the area defended, the location of the early warning line, the coverage and capability of the ground control and identification system, and the nature of the threat. The political environment, which defines the objective of air defense, also influences the choice of air defense measures. The paper discusses the general nature of the problem and shows how many of the important parameters may be combined quantitatively, to guide the comparison of alternate types of defense systems.