A multi-objective optimization problem research for amphibious operational mission of shipboard helicopters

Airborne landing with shipboard helicopters gradually replaces surface landing to dominate joint amphibious operations. A problem with shipboard helicopter mission planning is conducted in the context of amphibious operations. First, the typical missions of shipborne helicopters in amphibious operations are analyzed. An Amphibious Operational Mission Planning Model for Shipboard Helicopters (AOMPMSH) is established, with the objectives of minimizing the completion time of the amphibious campaign and minimizing troop and helicopter losses, taking the available operational resources and the order of the mission sub-phases into account. Then, a simulation-based amphibious operations effectiveness assessment model is constructed to calculate the optimization objectives of AOMPMSH by simulating the campaign development with an amphibious objective area situation transfer model and simulating the engagement process with a modified Lanchester model. A reference point based multi-objective optimization algorithm is designed to solve the proposed AOMPMSH. The population iteration mechanism employs an initial population generation method and a local search method to solve the problem of vast definition space. The population ranking selection mechanism employs a population distribution based reference point generation method to solve the problem of population irregular distribution. Finally, a simulation case with the background of a battalion-scaled amphibious campaign is presented. The calculation results verify the rationality of the proposed model and the superiority of the designed algorithm and have some reference value for the operational applications of shipboard helicopters in amphibious operations.