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The latest buzzword in the Defense Department is Simulation Based Acquisition. For several years, however, MITRE has been putting advanced simulation technologies into the acquisition work of the Air Force Electronic Systems Center. We have developed Modeling and Simulation tools to evolve a simulation based acquisition capability in three concepts: Simulated Wartime Data Feeds, Modeling and Simulation for Integration and Verification, and Model Reference Technology.

Part 1 - Simulated Wartime Data Feeds

MITRE has developed an infrastructure that has made it possible, for the first time, to tie together Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools at run time within a local area network for analyzing acquisition engineering. The next step has been to extend distributed simulation over wider area networks, including linking to Command and Control systems.

In 1996, MITRE developed a gateway in the MASC (M&S Center) to allow M&S connectivity with the CUBE (Command and Control Unified Battlespace Environment). The CUBE is the Electronic Systems Center's integration and test lab for evolving C2 systems. Since then, the MASC has been able to drive Command and Control Systems that are being tested with data feeds from a simulated wartime scenario like Desert Storm. Now, we are applying this technology to the Expeditionary Force Experiment 98 (EFX-98). This is the first experiment of the Air Force Air and Space C2 Agency; it will take place in September over much of the United States.

Part 2 - M&S for Integration and Verification

Through modeling and simulation, MITRE is generating the synthetic battlespace environment for integration and verification of the Command and Control Initiatives in the CUBE. In the MASC, a battlespace environment is provided by two linked simulations: the Extended Air Defense Simulation (EADSIM) and the Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM). AWSIM gives the overall battlefield scenario representing an invasion of one third-world country by another and our rapid response of deploying an expeditionary force to stop the invasion. EADSIM gives more details of the performance of surveillance platforms under pseudo-wartime conditions. EADSIM output is passed to a series of translators developed by MITRE. They turn the output into real-world messages and sensor reports.

Those simulations make it possible to put both the battle planners and their software through their paces in doing their tasks, enhanced by yet other Command and Control initiatives for operator evaluation during EFX-98.

Part 3 - Model Reference Technology

We have also begun applying MITRE's Model Reference Technology, which is made up of systems architecture specification, and analysis, test, and project management tools, integrated in a toolbox. Model Reference Technology can help an acquisition program organize and execute its development, test, and evaluation tasks

These tools enable projects to generate two types of digital models essential to Simulation Based Acquisition. The first models specify the integration operational and system architecture of a system or system of systems. The second type of model consists of workflow plans, which specify what products will be generated, who will use them, and what resources are required to create products.

MITRE experiments are applying the Model Reference Technology M&S tools 1) to capture the EFX architecture in a way that permits dynamic performance analysis, 2) to define essential elements of information required by the users of the architectures, and 3) to identify architectural flaws early in the integration process.

The centerpiece of the toolbox is the MAST (Model Reference Technology Architecture Specification Tool). Developed as a MITRE research project, the MAST enables the creation, retrieval, editing, and saving of the various architectural views within a comprehensive database framework.

For EFX, we used automated tools to extract models of many of the Air Force systems we included in our modeling environment. This environment consists of colored PetriNet process models of the architectures, annotated with all of the cause-and-effect relationships within an architecture we call "loop relationships." This modeling environment adds enormously to the architect's and engineers understanding of the interrelationships across the total functionality of such a complicated system of systems as EFX.

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For more information, please contact Al Shanahan using the employee directory.

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