Air and Missile Defense Systems Engineering

Chapter 2

Systems Engineering Fundamentals

There is no one theory that completely defines systems engineering (SE). Specifically, it is a branch of engineering that does not go back to physical first principles. SE is not simply a planning process to define and execute the job at hand. As the title of this book suggests, systems engineering is one piece of the total topic to be discussed. SE, however, is considered only in a loose sense, and the focus of the book is on the analysis and trade space associated with producing a balanced air and missile defense system (AMDS). SE will be treated first as an outline to accomplish the true purpose of the book. This is not a theoretical treatment of SE nor is it an exhaustive practical treatment. Accordingly, ...