Battle Management Language Transformations

Abstract : A critically needed element of transformation is to enable interoperation of alliance and coalition Command and Control (C2) and Modelling and Simulation (M&S) systems. Battlefield Management Language (BML) is being developed as a common representation of military mission suitable for automated processing. Within NATO the task group MSG-048 Coalition BML is defining a BML using the Joint Command, Control and Consultation Information Exchange Data Model (JC3IEDM) as a lexicon. BML addresses the capability to initialize Simulations with Operational orders and taskings that has been recognized as a key future capability for both training and experimentation. We describe a limited demonstration where both French and US C2 planning systems were used to prepare a Course of Action (COA) to conduct a coalition coordinated operation which supported approval of the new Technology Assessment Program MSG-048. BML is being explored in US Army, US Joint and Coalition Contexts. With MSG-048, continued research in many dimensions is continuing to broaden the BML concept. Better integration of reasoning within a Coalition C2 process can be facilitated by specific BMLs. An example is geoBML. Such reasoning capabilities are fundamental to enabling transformation through C2-Simulation interoperation and also to providing capabilities for future experimentation. We describe how geoBML will be implemented through extensions of C2IEDM, expanding and further transforming coalition capabilities.