(U) Modeling and Simulation

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U)  The use of modeling and simulation (M&S) by the Air Force and the DoD is rapidly increasing. M&S is being used as a means to solve problems in a time of fiscal shrinkage. It can be used to provide effective and safe training for various sized groups from an individual in a cockpit to a battle staff. M&S also saves time and money during the acquisition of new weapon systems by allowing R&D problems to be solved without the expense of building and testing prototypes.

(U)  Modeling and simulation has been used extensively in the past by AF and DoD to perform two basic functions, analysis and training. These functions have been integrated into all echelons of the AF. The analysis community has used M&S to give better answers. Included under the umbrella of analysis are things like operational effectiveness, basic research, force structure decisions, and weapon employment. Training concentrates on better skills for the war fighter. It encompasses things like mission planning and rehearsal, mission simulators, air operation center, and JFACC.

(U)  In order to be effective, not only must the operations of the equipment be simulated faithfully, so must the battlespace environment and it^Rs effects on the weapons systems being simulated. The battlespace environment consists of terrain, battlefield contaminants, the atmosphere, etc. Until now, technological constraints have kept the full battlespace environment out of distributed simulations.

(U)  Achievements in FY97 for Modeling and Simulation include contributing a Spacecraft Simulation Toolkit (SST)-based GPS simulation and a Virtual Cockpit to the ACC's Warrior Flag 97 wargame exercises. These simulations bring realistic modeling of navigational aids to the training and exercise community. Modeling and Simulation has also delivered: the SST baseline architecture; the Ultra-lightweight Imaging Technology Experiment (Ultra-LITE) simulation; Space-Based Radar systems simulations; and limited bus health and status simulations used for satellite operator displays, anomaly resolution, and autonomous satellite operation.

Description: (U)
(U)  Modeling and simulation is proceeding in three phases.  The first phase develops the Space Simulation Framework (SSF).  The SSF is a flexible, object-oriented modeling and simulation system architecture.  This architecture will allow us to realistically model and test proposed satellites in a simulation before actually building them, thus reducing the risk and cost associated with designing, building, testing, and operating real satellites.

(U)  In FY98, our SSF architecture will be developed into a capability for real-time space simulation for training and CONOPS.  This phase of development will enhance the baseline SSF to include real-time operation and training simulations, the ability to drive operator displays during satellite simulations, and robust training for satellite operators and space asset users.  Our challenge at this stage is to develop adequate fidelity and speed for realistic training simulations.

(U)  In FY00, our work will expand into full-scale, high-fidelity space simulation for autonomous mission operations.  Fidelity and speed of simulations will be improved even further, to allow faster-than-real-time operations.  Our system will have the ability to simulate force enhancement and space control mission areas.  At this stage, we will also be developing and testing technologies for autonomous satellite and information-on-demand operations.

User Impact: (U)
(U) None.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Concept/Technology.
	(U) IOC: 02/1996 (2QFY1996).

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) None.

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Space System Technologies

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) TECHNOLOGY- RDT&E.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
01 July 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)