Advanced Distributed Simulation for the Australian Defence Force

Abstract : To address long standing problems with modeling and simulation, the U.S. Department of Defence through the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office (DMSO) has initiated a comprehensive series of programs. These programs aim to promote interoperability, code and model reuse, data standardisation, common conceptual models of military operations, and Validation, Verification & Accreditation (VV&A) through a Common Technical Framework. A key issue for Australia is the means of networking simulators together. The U.S. DoD has mandated the High Level Architecture (HLA) which has technical advantages over the previous standard, Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS). The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed in the Australian context. Other related programs such as the Synthetic Environment Data Representation and Interchange Specification (SEDRIS), Conceptual Models of Mission Space, Master Environment Library, Data Engineering, and VV&A programs are discussed in the Australian context The authors recommend a cautious approach to the introduction of HLA into the ADO following the U.S. experience. Through appropriate Defence Exchange Agreements the ADO can work with the U.S. and our other allies (particularly the UK) to ensure that ADF in-service training systems will migrate to HLA while retaining interoperability.