Loop Closure for Enhanced Win Percentage in an Air Operation

This paper formalizes a method for generation of state-based control policy at the strategic level in an air operation, aiming at maximizing the winning probability of the Blue force. A generic model is used to explain the aspects of modeling, control design, and implementation. More specifically, a constrained bilinear control problem defined on a probability simplex is formulated and solved approximately using a receding horizon control scheme. The control policy is also implemented on-line in a closed-loop where the air operation is simulated with SimEvents as a stochastic process. A significantly enhanced win percentage is resulted from the loop closure at the strategic level, where planning activities are traditionally carried out open-loop.