The Strawman version of the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Architecture was unveiled in March 1992. This Architecture addressed the requirements and design of interactive (man-in-the-loop) combat simulation in a distributed and networked computing environment.

Since its initial unveiling, work has continued on the refinement and expansion of the architecture. This paper highlights developments which, as part of the Architecture, facilitate the interoperation of training simulators of varied fidelity, design, and manufacture.

A specific application which motivates this work is the requirement to conduct training simulation exercises which utilize three different classes of networked simulator devices—a class of existing DIS trainers, an existing high-definition engineering simulator, and a class of new-generation DIS simulators.

Specific issues to be addressed in the paper are:

Summary overview of key concepts of the DIS Architecture and its enhancements.

Brief comparison of the configurations and capabilities of both the existing "SIMNET" devices and the newer-generation training devices.

Analysis of how simulator differences detract from the Interoperation of these systems.

Discussion of the concepts and solutions, found in the DIS Architecture, which address interoperability problems.

The focus of the paper is to address how the Architecture supports the implementation of interoperability solutions in the proposed exercises.