Optimizing flight operations for an aircraft carrier in transit

Suppose that an aircraft carrier is in transit to an assigned position within strike range of a designated target, and is required to be there at a specified time. The carrier may use aircraft assets for defense against threats that may be encountered en route, but doing so will encumber the carrier's progress toward the required objective. We present a highly detailed integer programming model for scheduling aircraft launches and recoveries, to achieve an optimal balance between the conflicting needs of self-protection and on-time arrival.