Platform-centered weapons system simulators containing tightly coupled synthetic environments rely on messaging of state information and don’t interact well with each other. As needs change, and operational requirements grow more complex, these proven systems become inadequate to represent the complex interactions of modern data-centric warfare. The decades long integration approach is now neither practical nor sustainable.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated efforts to establish a data-centric modern and future battlespace, aiming to equip the Joint Force with the ability to "attain and sustain information advantage, especially in cyberspace, space, and the electromagnetic spectrum." The modeling and simulation (M&S) community must align its efforts accordingly. Representatives from the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Major Commands (MAJCOMs) at I/ITSEC last year spoke of the urgent need for a common synthetic environment. Having a common environment across the DoD is not attainable because of varying requirements and responsibilities. However, a common architectural approach following the same principles and guidelines which aligns the Services’ efforts to attain individual training needs as well as that of the Joint Force is possible.

The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) developed a Government Reference Architecture (GRA) with a focus on the future. It provides high-level guidance on the principles and practices for Synthetic Training M&S efforts, with alignment to other DoD reference architectures, modernization strategies, and the DoD Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) Data Strategy. The GRA outlines the necessary capabilities required to render a training environment that is relevant to future threats, with a particular emphasis on digital, synthetic, and encrypted capabilities to integrate operations across all domains.

James Torgler

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Revolutionizing Simulation: Pioneering a Data-Centric Future in Defense Training Environments