Use of Modeling and Simulation (M&S) in Support of the Assessment of Information Technology (IT) and Network Centric Warfare (NCW) Systems and Concepts

Abstract : The work described in this paper addresses recent advances in the application of modeling and simulation (M&S) techniques to the problem of quantifying the force-level warfighting value-added of Information Superiority (IS) and Network Centric Warfare (NCW) in the context of realistic scenarios including Operational War Plans (OPLANs). The IS/NCW M&S activities to be reported in this paper have taken place in support of operational experiments and wargames, as part of analyses in support of CINC-level commands, and as a part of analyses in support of certain specific acquisition programs having the requirement to demonstrate synergy with ongoing DoD/Service Information Technology/Network Centric Warfare (IT/NCW) improvement programs. Lessons-learned concerning the challenges associated with representing IT infrastructure improvements along with required NCW warfare process reengineering (WPR) initiatives will be presented. It will be shown that an iterative cycle of WPR initiative formulation and evaluation is often a required part of an assessment of the force-level warfighting value-added of specific IT/NCW improvements. We have found that M&S tools hence provide an important adjunct to operational experimentation in the role of formulating and evaluating the WPR initiatives which will likely provide the most warfighting value-added for specific IT improvements relative to specific scenarios or war plans. Quantitative results, including discussion of specific sets of analyzed IT improvement(s), WPR initiative(s), and OPLANs, will be included in this paper.