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 MITRE Supports Technical Definition of the Intelligence and Electronic
Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer MITRE Supports Technical Definition of the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer (IEWTPT) MITRE supports a variety of simulation and training systems programs for the United States Army Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM). One such project involves the evolutionary definition of the technical approach for a state-of-the-art trainer, the IEWTPT. The IEWTPT will provide high-fidelity intelligence training to integrated simulation environments, adding realism to battle command training. The Army Intelligence Center at Ft Huachuca and the US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (DCSINT) have long recognized the requirement for training commanders and soldiers on their C4I warfighting systems. As the training system developer, STRICOM has defined a technical approach and Concept of Operations for the IEWTPT, and will develop a trainer for Army tactical intelligence operators that feed the battle commander's decision making process. The IEWTPT will require a scenario generator to stimulate various intelligence collection systems, and that scenario generation capability will be provided by the Warfighter's Simulation (WARSIM) Intelligence Module (WIM) of WARSIM 2000. The WIM contractor is the tactical intelligence developer for the Joint Simulation System (JSIMS). JSIMS development exploits a number of technologies that will support the IEWTPT development, including High Level Architecture (HLA) interfaces to distributed integrated simulation (DIS) operations, multiple levels of security support, and stimulation of operational C4I systems with simulated scenario data. There are significant differences in the ways that WIM and IEWTPT will provide intelligence products to battle command training. WIM simulates the intelligence cycle resulting in simulated intelligence products, and WIM displays some raw intelligence data for the battle commander. IEWTPT, on the other hand, will use simulated scenario data to stimulate tactical intelligence collection equipment. The intelligence system operators produce and disseminate the intelligence products to all-source intelligence personnel who produce fused intelligence reports for battle commander consumption. IEWTPT will enhance the training environment by requiring an orchestrated effort from the battle commander's staff ordering of multi-disciplined intelligence products using the best possible mix of decision making tools. Ultimately, the command, control and intelligence human and automated "machine" train to work efficiently and effectively together. The IEWTPT will consist of three main components: the interface to the scenario generation capability, the Technical Control Cell (TCC) and the Target Signature Array (TSA). Scenario generation, provided by WIM, has already been described above. The TCC will monitor the inputs from the WIM simulation, record data for After-Action Review (AAR), disseminate data to the various TSAs that are connected, monitor the outputs of the TSAs, and provide status information back to the driving simulation. The TSA is an embedded or strapped-on "stimulator" that interfaces with the tactical intelligence equipment to stimulate displays, inputs or data that a soldier would normally receive. The current vision is for the TCC to convert WIM scenario data into context relevant stimulation of the TSAs. There are currently ten tactical intelligence systems that require TSAs. These systems are: the Joint Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (JT-UAV) Tactical Control System (TCS), JSTARS Common Ground Station (CGS), the GUARDRAIL Common Sensor (GRCS) Integrated Processing Facility (IPF), TRAILBLAZER, Improved Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System (I-REMBASS), Tactical Exploitation System (TES)/Division TES (DTES), Counter Intelligence/Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Automation Tool Set (CHATS), Aerial Reconnaissance Low Multi-function (ARL-M), and Aerial Common Sensor (ACS). MITRE developed a Concept of Operations (CONOP) that defined the system interactions and interrelationships between existing and future simulation training programs. The CONOP provided the basis for defining the technical approach to satisfy connectivity and interaction of training systems with operational systems at various locations. The recommended approach calls for integrating IEWTPT directly with WIM, as early as possible, to avoid costly re-design efforts. IEWTPT can benefit from on-going JSIMS forums addressing communications infrastructures, security interfaces, and C4I interface mechanisms. Interface designs, data formats, and system requirements will be produced during the initial design process and provided to the IEW System Program Managers. Technical challenges can be defined in three basic groups: visual, electronic signal/voice communications, and simulated human behaviors. PM-JSTARS and the UAV TCS Program Management Office (PMO) have already developed interactive simulation training capabilities for their systems. The Multiple Unified Simulation Environment (MUSE) for UAV TCS training, and the JSTARS Workstation (JSWS) for CGS training are currently providing training and can be leveraged for IEWTPT TSAs. The electronic signal and voice communications TSAs have common characteristics and technical challenges that will be explored in the near future. One such challenge is stimulating context-sensitive, event-specific communication that support an on-going simulated scenario which in turn drives the commander to make the right decisions. Another challenge is the requirement to net multiple signal processors with simulation data that results in pinpoint locations for precision operations. Finally, simulating human behaviors and interactions to provide HUMINT products will be challenging in that HUMINT is predictive and simulation products must support rather than shape an on-going simulation exercise. The Army faces a great challenge in providing this realistic training capability to battle commanders and their staff. System developers have some tough choices in funding training needs versus operational systems. Even more challenging is the relative unknown definition of interfaces between the driving simulation (WIM), the TCC, and the TSAs that will result in timely intelligence being provided to the commander. An Integrated Process Team (IPT) has been established to begin addressing these and other questions in support of a Fiscal Year 2000 program start. (The USA STRICOM has approved this article for public release. However, approval does not imply factual accuracy of information published within the article or endorsement by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or the Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation Command.) For more information, please contact Anne Dunlap using the employee directory. |
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