Optimal resource partitioning in conflicts based on Lanchester (n, 1) attrition model

This paper develops a model for military conflicts where the defending forces have to determine an optimal partitioning of available resources to counter attacks from an adversary from n different fronts. The problem of optimally partitioning the defending forces against the attacking forces is addressed. The Lanchester square law model is used to develop the dynamical equations governing the variation in force strength. Two different allocation schemes - time-zero-allocation (TZA) and continuous constant allocation (CCA) - are considered and the optimal solutions for both are obtained analytically. These results generalize other results available in the literature. Numerical examples are given to support the analytical results