Military systems analysis

A survey intended for military officers and others acquainted with but not well versed in the technique of systems analysis. To show an introductory example of the simplest category of system analysis, the author examines a problem involved in the choice of a next-generation air defense missile. This relatively narrow application is then contrasted with the much broader and more complex problem of designing an entire air-defense system to protect the United States from damage. Most of this Memorandum consists of a discussion of four stages or steps involved in system analysis: formulation of the problem, search for the relevant data, explanation (building a model and exploring its consequences), and interpretation (deriving the conclusions). The Memorandum concludes with a brief discussion of the changes in military systems analysis that have occurred during the past few years.