With the fiscal constraints placed upon DoD, Advanced Distributed Simulation (ADS) and virtual prototyping can be combined to refine requirements, improve system design and flesh out a concept of operations for both acquisition managers and Warfighters. Through a structured process of systems engineering and integration, the linking of virtual simulations and prototype systems designs allows for the analysis and trades in technology, cost, schedule, and risk to support acquisition guidelines to "simulate before building" and enables more thorough and comprehensive assessments of the impacts and improvements for the Warfighters.

By coupling simulations and prototypical systems, a new era of Advanced Information Technology begins. Now, simulations transition into being applications that support real world operating missions. The concept of "train as we fight" begins to be applied even in the complex world of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I). We begin to move into a synthetic world that no longer assumes away difficult tasks by just allowing software to stimulate a Warfighter's monitor, but requires the operator to execute the mission task in the context of a real world environment.

DoD can no longer afford one system or simulation for training and another for fighting. Through experience in designing, developing, and integrating virtual prototypes with simulations, knowledge is being gained as to the applicability of today's distributed simulation standards for solving real world communication needs as well as their continued impact on tomorrow's systems. This paper will discuss the efforts in virtual prototyping linkage with ADS and the future impact that DIS ++ and High Level Architecture will have on this emerging technology.