Modelling host population support for combat adversaries

Abstract

We consider a model of adversarial dynamics consisting of three populations, labelled Blue, Green, and Red, which evolve under a system of first order nonlinear differential equations. Red and Blue populations are adversaries and interact via a set of Lanchester combat laws. Green is divided into three sub-populations: Red supporters, Blue supporters, and Neutral. Green support for Red and Blue leads to more combat effectiveness for either side. From Green’s perspective, if either Red or Blue exceeds a size according to the capacity of the local population to facilitate or tolerate, then support for that side diminishes; the corresponding Green population reverts to the neutral sub-population, who do not contribute to combat effectiveness of either side. The mechanism for supporters deciding if either Blue or Red is too big is given by a logistic-type interaction term. The intent of the model is to examine the role of influence in complex adversarial situations typical in counter-insurgency, where victory requires a genuine balance between maintaining combat effectiveness and support from a third party whose backing is not always assured.

Keywords:

• Lanchester model
• Volterra–Lotka model
• influence modelling

Acknowledgements

This research was a collaboration between the Commonwealth of Australia (represented by the Defence Science and Technology Group) and Deakin University through a Defence Science Partnerships agreement, under the auspices of the Modelling Complex Warfighting initiative.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).