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The article outlines the outcome of a comprehensive researche aiming at the enhancement of decision making within the defence and operational planning processes. Both processes differ in purpose, neverthelles they are challenged by the very same problém to find solutions with maximum operational effectiveness of armed forces capabilities at minimum cost to achieve objectives. It applies constructive simulation namely the software instruments of MASA SWORD and assess its potential to support the process of capability requirements identification and validation of potential alternatives to achieve objectives. It provides reasonable evidence that constructive simulation is a valuable instrument to support the evidence based decision making within in the processes of defence planning and operations planning proces. Constructive simulation allows to identify the most suitable solutions in terms of both operational effectiveness and costs.

The paper sets out the results of an experiment carried out using MASA SWORD simulator to verify the use of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance model during battalion force protection activities. The authors focus particularly on the first phase of the battle—enemy approaching and early reconnaissance. The reconnaissance was planned using the UAV reconnaissance model which is part of the Tactical Decision Support System (TDSS). The aim of the experiment is to verify the possibilities of using the UAV reconnaissance model for battalion-size unit force protection and to compare this model with ordinarily used tactical procedures. The experiment proves the hypothesis defined in the introduction and quantifies some defined variables. Based on the result of the experiment, it is possible to state that UAV reconnaissance has significant impact on the effectiveness of the military mission. Moreover, the simulation environment opens a wide range of possibilities for future research including multiple simulations of the scenario, comparison of achieved results in dependence on the set conditions and variable settings, tailoring tactics for the scenario at hand, and so on.

The Post-Information Age brings new challenges into the military operational environment. The current approach of the extreme hierarchical command and control cannot be sustained in this complex and dynamic environment. Thus, making the search for new command and control approaches is a critical activity. The description and classification of command and control approaches is expressed in a very abstract way. The article describes a unique, quantification technique of command and control approaches. The quantification is demonstrated by Use Case with self-synchronization as the selected command and control approach. In the Use Case, the deterministic dynamic model is implemented. The results achieved from the model demonstrate a variance of a single parameter, on which the quality of the selected Command and Control approach in the given operational scenario quantifies.

The paper sets out the results of an experiment carried out using the Virtual Battle Space 2 simulator to verify the applicability of an autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) reconnaissance model when moving oversized loads. The model is originally implemented within a decision-support system under military conditions. The aim of the experiment is to verify the possibilities of using the model for civilian needs. The basic output of the experiment presented in the paper is confirmation that the autonomous UAS reconnaissance model can be applied in the actual transportation of oversized loads: the experiment confirms the author’s hypothesis. Based on the result of the experiment it is possible to state that a slightly modified UAS model can significantly influence the execution phase of the oversized load movement in a positive way. It shows that the use of the model reduces the time of the movement and avoids unexpected interferences.

Ideal dressings of surgical wounds should provide moist, semi‐permeable, and antiseptic environments for optimal wound healing. To maximise patient comfort, surgical dressings must be hypoallergenic, not restrict movement, and allow patients to manage their personal hygiene. From the aspect of health care personnel, dressings should enable visual monitoring of the wound without the need for removing them, thus reducing the number of dressing changes. The active antimicrobial effect of silver cations has been demonstrated by many studies. StopBac is a unique surgical dressing based on the sol‐gel process. Silver cations are bound in a colloidal solution in an organic‐inorganic hybrid organosilicate oligomer. This gel is deposited on a pad using spray atomisation. The result is a polymer nanolayer matrix with prolonged and controlled release of silver ions. This pad forms part of a waterproof hypoallergenic transparent adhesive bandage. The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the ability of StopBac to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients after abdominal surgery. The secondary goal was to compare costs and determine the properties of this new material. A total of 32 patients were included in the study. The patients were followed up until their surgical wounds healed completely. An SSI occurred only in one patient.

This paper examines the model of autonomous surveillance using a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles with the simultaneous detection principle. This model enables to specify a number of sensors needed to detect an object of interest located in the area of interest; objects are detected only if scanned by the specified number of sensors simultaneously. The model plans deployment of individual vehicles in the swarm during the surveillance operation in a such a way that the surveillance is performed in the maximum quality; the quality is measured as a percentage of the area of interest that is covered during the operation. Furthermore, the surveillance is assumed to be conducted in the complex area of operations (including urban environments, build-up areas, or mountain environments with very uneven terrain) where occlusions caused by obstacles or terrain may occur often. For solution, the metaheuristic algorithm based on the simulated annealing is proposed. This algorithm deploys the number of waypoints, from which the monitoring is performed, maximizing the surveillance quality and taking the simultaneous detection principle into consideration. The algorithm is verified by a set of experiments based on typical surveillance scenarios.

At the battalion level, NATO ROLE1 medical treatment command focuses on the provision of primary health care being the very first physician and higher medical equipment intervention for casualty treatments. ROLE1 has paramount importance in casualty reductions, representing a complex system in current operations. This study deals with an experiment on the optimization of ROLE1 according to the key parameters of the numbers of physicians, the number of ambulances and the distance between ROLE1 and the current battlefield. The very first step in this study is to design and implement a model of current battlefield casualties. The model uses friction data generated from an already executed computer assisted exercise (CAX) while employing a constructive simulation to produce offense and defense scenarios on the flow of casualties. The next step in the study is to design and implement a model representing the transportation to ROLE1, its structure and behavior. The deterministic model of ROLE1, employing a system dynamics simulation paradigm, uses the previously generated casualty flows as the inputs representing human decision-making processes through the recorder CAX events. A factorial experimental design for the ROLE1 model revealed the recommended variants of the ROLE1 structure for both offensive and defensive operations. The overall recommendation is for the internal structure of ROLE1 to have three ambulances and three physicians for any kind of current operation and any distance between ROLE1 and the current battlefield within the limit of 20 min. This study provides novelty in the methodology of casualty estimations involving human decision-making factors as well as the optimization of medical treatment processes through experimentation with the process model.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and other similar equipment are having a boom nowadays. Moreover, the usage of those modern technologies is also significant within armies. Unmanned aerial vehicles are extensively use within most of the military activities all over the world mainly on the battalion level and above. This paper is focused to discuss the usage of this technology on tactical level, particularly by squad and squad size units. The paper deals mainly with influence of unmanned aerial vehicles on troops leading procedure. The main methods of this paper are outcomes from the realized experiment. It shows on examples specific impact on all steps of the troops leading procedure. The experiment revealed interesting data and some possible conclusion were made. The primarily target of this paper is experience military personnel dealing with this topic. The paper should open broad discussion focused on all steps of troops leading procedure and outline the possible way of troops leading procedure update. Unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and other modern technology providing almost online information to the squad leader could significantly influence all steps of the troop leading procedure, safe preparation time as well as lives of the troops.

The paper focuses on the analysis of the current highly dangerous tools of destruction, used mostly by insurgents and terrorists, especially in asymmetric warfare. Vehicles usually loaded with explosives (mostly homemade explosive), driven by suicide bombers are a significant threat to troops and the civilian population, not only in high risk areas. Analysis of the available incidents of this type, and available response to an incident mentioned in this article, it becomes the basic portfolio data for the design of effective elimination or at least reduction of the destructive effect, especially on soft targets.

This paper deals with the model of observation posts deployment in the area of operations. The goal of the model is to find optimal positions for a number of observation posts in order to observe as large area of interest as possible provided that the tactical requirements and conditions for the task at hand are kept. The first part of the paper presents the mathematical formulation of the model. Then, a stochastic algorithm based on the simulated annealing principle is proposed for the problem solution. Next part shows the application of the model which is implemented in the Tactical Decision Support System, the purpose of which is to aid commanders on the tactical level in their decision-making process. The last part shows results from experiments conducted on a set of benchmark problems which are based on the typical military scenarios.

The article deals with modern technologies to support military operations in order to yield new innovations and development in the area of security and sustainability of military units. The article is divided into two key parts. The first part presents the model of the Autonomous Aerial Reconnaissance Problem (AARP). Firstly, the basic features and principles of the model are discussed. The AARP can be seen as a well-known Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem (MDVRP); however, the different optimal criterion is used. Thus, the AARP is formulated for the first time as a new problem. Then, the basic aspects of the original metaheuristic solution proposed by the authors to the AARP is introduced. Finally, the algorithm is verified on the benchmark instances to show its effectiveness. The second key part of the article deals with the tactical aspects of the AARP; the use of the model is shown on the platoon level within a chosen tactical activity.

This paper presents experiment of the Tactical Decision Support System (TDSS) implementation within company defensive operation. TDSS system fully integrates model of aerial reconnaissance, which significantly influence decision-making of the company commander during the defensive operation. The experiment was conducted with support of simulation technology, particularly Steel Beast Pro software. As a part of various scenarios the paper presents results of UAS reconnaissance model use within different scenario on tactical level. The key part of this article defines parameters of the experiment, evaluates the results and confirms the purpose of the model in support of the decision-making process of a commander. The paper also deals with impact of usage modern technology on decision-making process.

This paper presents experiments with the model of aerial reconnaissance in the real environment. The model has been integrated into the Tactical Decision Support System (TDSS) which supports commanders of the Czech Army in their decision-making. The model is focused on planning the optimal reconnaissance operation of the area of interest by a fleet of unmanned aerial systems (UASs). A set of experiments on various scenarios has been proposed to verify the model in the real environment. The key part of this article defines parameters of the experiments, evaluates the results and confirms the purpose of the model in support of the decision making process of a commander. The paper also deals with other possibilities of using the model in the area of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN).

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