Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) is a Naval operating concept intent on reclaiming and expanding United States’ naval effectiveness where land, air, sea and information superiority are challenged, logistics are contested, and forces are distributed over large distances. Key to DMO is the ability to plan and execute synchronized operations across multiple, geographically distributed warfighting domains using a diverse range of forces. Realizing this vision requires technologies to test operational plans and teach, in real time, key concepts in an integrated, synchronized and cross-platform manner. Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) technologies, which link high-fidelity simulations, real-world activity and, constructive teammates and adversaries using integrated networks, provide one approach to realizing the large-scale and distributed actions DMO requires to succeed. Despite many recent advances, LVC applications are still in their infancy, with a proliferation of “one off” capabilities that solve a small specific gap but lack application to broader LVC initiatives. These challenges are further exacerbated by the lack of a consolidated Navy roadmap that supports overall training and readiness necessary to operationalize DMO as a warfighting concept. Thus, a need exists to develop a unified LVC implementation framework to focus investments, increase transition, and provide speed to the fleet over the next 30 years. This paper provides an overview of an LVC implementation framework developed in coordination with key Naval stakeholders and LVC leaders from other Services and Coalition partners. The framework enables alignment of emerging stakeholder needs contextualized in DMO with current/desired LVC capabilities. Importantly, the framework also provides a way to inform new capability research investments and identify existing solutions to leverage. While long-term value of this framework requires continued monitoring/assessment, this is a first step in delivering an integrated and unified approach that enables DMO to deliver situationally aware forces that are prepared to outthink, outperform and overwhelm adversaries.

Keywords
LVC

Additional Keywords
Distributed Mission Operations, training roadmap, training strategy, implementation framework