How to build joint distributed mission simulations that are more effective with respect to the set objectives? Faced with already available simulators, optimal matching between these simulators in a distributed mission simulation is normally not possible. Often however these simulators can be connected together and configured such that they have at least basic interactions in a common environment. This however gives rise to questions on the effectiveness of such distributed simulations, which primarily depends on the objectives set out for the distributed simulation. When a simulation can be effectively used to satisfy an objective it is said to have effective realism with respect to this objective.

Interoperability standards for distributed simulation, first Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) later High Level Architecture (HLA), focus on information distribution. However, these interoperability standards do not specify how distributed information shall be used within the receiving simulations, neither do they specify to what degree reality must be modelled. Both well defined information usage and an adequate abstraction of reality throughout the distributed simulation are key interoperability factors to ensure effective realism.

This paper proposes a method, named Model Driven Development for Distributed Simulation (MD3S), to ensure better effective realism of distributed simulations. This method supports the Federation Development and Execution Process (FEDEP) and incorporates objectives, requirements, constraints, scenario interactions, conceptual model, design and some implementation aspects into a single unified and fully correlated development model, which also benefits verification and validation. It is based on common systems engineering practices and uses the standard Systems Modelling Language (SysML) for model expression. This paper presents the MD3S concepts by means of a case-study that has been performed.