ABSTRACT
Mission analysis is aimed at the description of behaviour in terms of missions and the analysis of specific missions in terms of goals, system requirements, environmental dependencies, and processes. The terms 'mission' and 'mission analysis' have several connotations. In military usage, the mission is 'a clear, concise statement of the task of the command and its purpose' (Webster's New World Dictionary), or a 'specific combat operation assigned to an individual or unit; more specifically for the air domain: a single combat flight by an airplane or group of airplanes' (DoD Dictionary). Mission analysis is 'the process to determine the operational capabilities of military forces that are required to carry out assigned missions, roles and tasks in the face of the existing or postulated threat, with an acceptable degree of risk'. This refers clearly to an actual combat situation in which missions have to be completed. To be prepared for these missions, however, one has to design weapon systems, train the troops, develop plans and doctrines, and organise a force unit for a particular mission. Guidance for these activities is provided by operational analysis and analysis of possible future, more generic mission types. It is in the latter sense that the terms mission and mission analysis in this overview are envisaged.
