Synthetic Acquisition Cycle on the Way,
Abstract
Budget restrictions are leading the Army toward a synthetic acquisition cycle that will introduce and update equipment faster, allowing potential enemies no time to deny our forces current technological edge. Conducting the acquisition cycle in a synthetic environment will accelerate the introduction of new capabilities into the Army, and will help design systems for change, so subsystems and components can be upgraded during an extended lifetime. Test and evaluations role must be rethought in subjecting systems to field conditions, learning from both successes and failures during testing, and applying test results that capture design flaws in need of redesign. The paradigm shift among the testers, users, and contractors cannot be directed from the top. Open access to the models of the system under test and the virtual test ranges during all phases is the key. To meet this need, TECOM is developing a Virtual Proving Ground which will replicate all of TECOM capabilities in a synthetic environment. We must explore feasible alternatives before a requirement is specified. As technology reduces the time between fielding of model changes, we can explore by experimental prototype demonstrations the real operational advantages of capabilities, previously only imputed by simulation or computation. This requires an interactive, open architecture, formatted in a familiar configuration that can import, interface, and integrate a broad range of external software packages. Users must be able to transparently invoke the appropriate functions and features needed for their system applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA323500
Entities
People
- Charles Brown
Organizations
- United States Army Test and Evaluation Command