A decision-support framework for the technical and cost evaluation of towed 155 mm howitzers

Abstract

This study proposes a structured decision-support framework for the technical and economic evaluation of 155 mm towed howitzer systems within the context of military capability modernization. The framework integrates four sequential stages: systematic literature mapping to identify candidate evaluation criteria; engineering-based filtering to ensure technical relevance and measurability; stakeholder validation through a survey of 52 domain experts from artillery, engineering, logistics, and maintenance fields; and a quantitative multicriteria evaluation using the TOPSIS method. Robustness was assessed through Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000,000 iterations, complemented by sensitivity analysis. From an initial set of criteria, six measurable attributes derived from technical datasheets were retained and applied to rank three candidate systems (AH4, G5-45, and M777). The results consistently indicate that the M777 achieves the highest relative closeness to the ideal solution, with stable rankings observed across robustness and sensitivity analyses. The proposed framework provides a transparent, reproducible, and adaptable methodology for supporting decision-making in defense acquisition contexts. By integrating literature-based criteria identification, expert validation, and data-driven multicriteria analysis, the approach addresses the complexity of balancing technical performance and economic constraints while remaining applicable to broader military equipment evaluation problems.