A Game-Theoretic Model for Defense of an Oceanic Bastion Against Submarines

Abstract : We develop a game-theoretic model called BASTION to guide the employment of antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platforms such as ships and aircraft that are defending a stationary oceanic bastion from attack by hostile submarines. The model is an example of a two-person zero-sum game with some additional variables (ship locations) that are under the control of the maximizing defender, but known to the minimizing attacker. The attacker knowing the ship locations, but not the locations of other platforms such as aircraft, must select a path to the bastion. The probability of detecting the attacker as it follows this path is the objective shared by the opponents.