Defense penetration path planning for UCAV based on threat netting

This paper studies the path planning of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) based on threat netting, mainly from the aspects of communication, command and control structure. It analyzes the effects of air defense units' interconnection on the penetration target's kill probability. Firstly, the paper establishes a threat netting model with mutual information delay between the threat units and the reliability of the network, and proves the validity and feasibility of the mathematical model through Network Simulator Version 2 (NS-2). Next, based on this model, it creates a threat cost evaluation model for path planning. Then, combining the UCAV's dynamic constraints and attack area constraints, the paper proposes an autonomous path planning algorithm based on the improved A^* algorithm. In order to enhance the operating efficiency of the algorithm, it proposes an improved path node search strategy. The simulation result demonstrates that this strategy can quickly generate a low altitude penetration trajectory for a UCAV. As the dynamic threat assessment method is employed in the planning, the algorithm is able to adapt easily to unexpected combat threat environments.