A weapon system of systems (WSoS) is a collection of interdependent systems providing multiple interdependent capabilities to support multiple tasks. In this paper, we propose a WSoS scheme generation method based on a granular analysis of a WSoS supernetwork. More precisely, we establish a WSoS supernetwork model based on a “network-centered” combat mode. Next, based on the theory of quotient space, a granular analysis is presented to reduce the complexity of the WSoS scheme generation. Then, the WSoS supernetwork is converted into a directed weighted network with multiple granularities, and an algorithm for the WSoS scheme generation based on the directed weighted network is presented. Consequently, each WSoS scheme corresponds to a path in the directed weighted network, and the capability of supporting the realization of a task by a WSoS can be analyzed based on the schemes. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated using an illustrative example.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) cluster combat is a typical example of an intelligent cluster application, and it is characterized by its large scale, low cost, retrievability, and intra-cluster autonomous coordination. An unmanned reconnaissance mission for a target group (URMFTG) is a significant pattern in UAV cluster combat. This paper discusses the collaborative path planning problem of unmanned aerial vehicle formations (UAVFs) and refueling tankers in a URMFTG with threat areas and fuel constraints. The purpose of collaborative path planning is to ensure that the UAVFs (with fuel constraints) can complete the reconnaissance mission for the target group with the assistance of refueling tankers, which is one of the most important constraints in the collaborative path planning. In this paper, a collaborative path-planning model is designed to analyze the relationship between the planning path of the UAVFs and the tankers, and a threat avoidance strategy is designed considering the threat area. This paper proposes a two-stage solution algorithm. It creates a UAVFs path-planning algorithm based on the fast search genetic algorithm (FSGA) and a refueling tanker path-planning algorithm based on the improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). Based on simulation experiments, the solution method proposed in this paper can provide a better path-planning scheme for a URMFTG. That is, it decreases the rate of the UAVF’s distance growth from 3.1% to 2.2% for the path planning of UAVFs and provides a better Pareto solution set for the path planning of refueling tankers.

The scheme for weapon system of systems (WSoS) is a combination of equipment systems that supports the mission completion. Modern warfare combat missions tend to be complex, short-lived, and costly, which poses new challenges to the generation of the schema of WSoS. The structures of both missions and WSoS are analyzed in this paper. The subtask decomposition relationship of the mission and the system decomposition relationship of the equipment system are defined. A fuzzy quantitative description of the system function implementation is formed in terms of supportiveness, time and cost. On this basis, the mission-oriented WSoS scheme is transformed into a fuzzy weighted network, and the scheme generation algorithm and scheme evaluation index are proposed. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated using an illustrative example.