Abstract

The article is devoted to the development and scientific substantiation of a comprehensive approach to planning search operations for damaged armoured vehicles during combat operations, based on the integration of ground technical reconnaissance groups and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Considering the high losses of armoured vehicles in modern armed conflicts and the limitations of traditional search methods, the proposed approach aims to enhance operational efficiency, reduce resource consumption, and maintain the combat capability of military formations.

The algorithm of the comprehensive method encompasses a sequence of actions: analysis of the combat situation, determination of the search area boundaries using overlay analysis within geographic information systems (GIS), and integration of data on meteorological conditions, illumination, season, factors of radiological, chemical and biological contamination, as well as probable enemy actions. To assess the capabilities of repair and recovery units, a formalized mathematical model of combat readiness is applied, taking into account the technical condition of available equipment, staffing levels, and personnel proficiency. Based on the a priori probability of locating damaged equipment, accessibility function, and integrated risk indicator, a search suitability function is formed to classify areas into high, medium, and low search priority zones.

The movement routes of technical reconnaissance groups and the flight trajectories of UAVs are optimized using multi-criteria methods that consider route length, risk factors, and mobility constraints. This ensures adaptive planning of search operations, enables rapid re-calculation of routes in response to changing conditions, and provides efficient resource allocation.

The practical significance of the study lies in reducing the time and material costs required for the search and evacuation of damaged vehicles, increasing the efficiency of repair and recovery units, and maintaining the combat stability of troop groupings in dynamic battlefield environments. The scientific novelty is defined by the integration of probabilistic analysis, GIS technologies, and multi-criteria optimization into a unified methodology that enables systematic organization of search-and-recovery planning and forms the foundation for the further development of the operational search phase ‒ including identification and assessment of the degree of vehicle damage.

Future research will focus on the practical implementation of search operations ‒ methods for detection and identification of armoured vehicles, formalized damage assessment, and decision-making procedures regarding recovery, evacuation, or destruction of equipment ‒ as well as on validation of the proposed algorithm through field testing and high-fidelity simulations to confirm its practical efficiency and adaptability.

Keywords: armoured vehicles, planning of search operations, damage, repair and recovery units, search for damaged equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

FULL TEXT (in Ukrainian)

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  The article was submitted 15.10.2025

The article was submitted 15.10.2025
© Pavlov, Ya.V.
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