The Navy has an effort underway to examine a Navy Aviation Simulation Master Plan. Part of this plan will detail the Training Environment in which Navy Aviation Simulators will conduct training. Although NASMP is still in it's early concept stages, this paper will discuss the notional architecture of this environment and some of the distinct advantages.

Traditionally, the services, including the Navy, have procured simulators that have been an "all-in-one" device. That is, a "stove pipe" simulator/simulation designed to achieve training for aircrew in a single type aircraft/model. For the Navy, and in particular the Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS), this procurement model was generally sufficient for basic procedure training and novice tactical training. Post-FRS training is much more dependent on the trainer/trainee being able to interact with typical tactical environments (e.g., communications with E-2 and/or AWACS aircraft, tactics/communications with multiple "friendly" aircraft, etc.). This capability has been extremely limited with current simulators. The NASMP is working toward building an architecture in which possible legacy simulators and new simulators will be able to join to produce a rich training environment. This architecture will allow simulator developers to concentrate resources on building a robust simulator with the ability to federate into a training environment that will be shared among all simulators. This essentially gives the Navy the advantage of buying the best simulator while getting the simulation environment, networking, and training-control for "free." While there will be a cost to develop this environment, it will not have to be developed each time a new simulator is developed. Furthermore, it will allow relatively easy and inexpensive updating as new threat scenarios and entities are discovered and implemented.