Modeling & Simulation

Abstract

The mission of MDA's Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Program is 1) to execute a single, integrated, and synchronized program to manage M&S development in support of MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMDS) acquisition, 2) to support BMDS Flight and Ground Test execution, 3) to drive MDA test activities to collect data for use in anchoring M&S, and 4) support warfighter training and tactics validation. M&S develops, sustains and delivers system-level models, frameworks, and simulations which are used to examine and evaluate BMDS performance and behaviors of the associated components and elements within a virtual and constructive simulation environment. MDA's M&S Program assists the development and acquisition of the BMDS by providing: M&S system and product planning, development, integration, and operation; threat model development, verification, and analysis; and integration and deployment of the agency's Distributed BMDS real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) and digital M&S simulation capabilities as a single, integrated, and synchronized program. MDA's M&S program is essential to ensuring missile defense capabilities are affordable and effective. Through the use of verified and validated models and accredited simulation systems, MDA's M&S program provides a cost effective means to assess and explore the performance space of the BMDS beyond what can be physically tested under current test range conditions and within the Agency's fiscal constraints. Through conceptual simulation activities, M&S provides the capability to design and develop technologies to hedge against future missile threats. These efforts require close coordination with the DoD, Joint Staff, Military Services, Combatant Commands (COCOMS), Operational Test Agencies (OTAs), MDA Program Elements, and the Intelligence Community. In response to a Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) BMDS Assessment Report, M&S has developed and is executing Corrective Action Plans. Key tasks include: -Ensure that future M&S architectures are composable and flexible, and simplify the integration process to conserve resources and improve capabilities. -Ensure that future M&S architectures incorporate and require the use of consistent “truth” representations (environmental factors, threat simulations, etc.). -Improve cross-organizational system engineering processes to optimize requirements generation and ensure the inclusion of all stakeholders. -Develop refined M&S accreditation criteria between MDA and Operational Test Agency (OTA). The M&S objective is to evolve the various systems and products to incrementally improve the fidelity of the Agency's M&S representations to match, as appropriate, the real world performance of the BMDS and meet Warfighter and Agency needs. In particular, MDA's M&S systems and products provide analysis and decision-making and planning capabilities for Real-World Operations in support of the National Command Authority, Joint Staff, Military Services, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Combatant Commands, OTAs, Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E), and Allies. Models and simulations are tailored to the specific needs of the Agency's test events and to match BMDS components in their various stages of development, ranging from low-to-medium fidelity analyses supporting concept definitions studies, to high-fidelity models used to support engineering level activities. Execution of the M&S mission requires reliance on and operation of two simulation frameworks which, when combined to meet specific M&S intended uses and user requirements with the appropriate fidelity, form a single Objective Simulation Framework (OSF) to enable the simulation of the BMDS performance in a virtual or constructive environment. The final integrated architecture system will merge the Single Stimulation Framework (SSF) and Digital Simulation Architecture (DSA) into one seamless M&S system that will meet both real-time and non-real time simulation needs. The OSF will host all simulated activities, events, scenarios, and Element and Threat models. MDA will use the end-to-end M&S system representation to conduct BMDS ground tests, Digital Performance Assessments, component training, Wargames, Flight Tests analysis (both pre-mission and post-mission), threat analysis, international event simulations, and to support COCOM exercises. The Core Truth Modeling program provides consistent and common Phenomenology, Lethality, and Environment models, and Threat capabilities for Agency M&S venues. Phenomenology models address missile hard body optical and infrared signatures, as well as the plume produced by the missile engines. Lethality models represent the impact of the BMDS missile kill vehicle (KV) (i.e. Ground-Based Interceptor, Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)) on reentry vehicles (RVs). Lethality results include percentage of destruction and direction and speed of debris fragments. Environment modeling provides a representation of natural and man-made endo and exo-atmospheric conditions (e.g., rain, wind, sea state) for simulations. The Threat Modeling Center (TMC) uses all-source intelligence products to produce credible, high resolution threat models and simulation media to support the defense of the United States, deployed forces, and allies against ballistic missile attacks. The threat models are used to produce accurate kinematic threat trajectories and signature data (radar cross-section (RCS), hardbody infrared (IR), and IR plume) of both ballistic missiles and air breathing threats to drive the M&S tools of the missile defense community, and enable design, verification, and assessment of the BMDS and associated Components concepts and requirements. Common threat data is used in various BMDS simulation events (e.g., flight, ground, Digital Performance Assessment, Warfighter training/exercises) to prove the performance of the BMDS. These threat representations are derived from information provided by the Intelligence Community, as well as MDA's Adversary Capability Documents (ACDs) and Adversary Data Packages (ADPs). MDA's M&S capabilities, systems and products are in use throughout the BMDS and provide the Warfighter and Operational Test Agencies (OTAs) the capability to evaluate both the BMDS and individual components. MDA works to validate and accredit system-level models and simulations by anchoring them to ground and flight test events to support accurate and comprehensive assessments of the BMDS. The success of the missile defense program is enabled by quality M&S systems and products that help to demonstrate how BMDS technologies work. In particular, MDA M&S system and product testing is based on an integrated, comprehensive, and phased test program as outlined in MDA's Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP). Within the construct of the IMTP, MDA Element-unique M&S systems, subsystems, and components are tested as part of their respective development and integration, a necessary precursor to conducting BMD System-level M&S testing (e.g., integrated ground test, performance/technical assessment venues). Resources for the planning, design, execution and management of this testing are provided in accordance with the BMDS Test Policy, as listed in the most current version of the IMTP. MDA's M&S program also supports various Allied/Coalition Partner cooperative activities, and various real-world pre- and post-flight launch analyses, and the Israel Cooperative Programs.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: MD31_0603890C_4_0400_PB_2015

Tags

Readers

• Computational Modeling and Simulation
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

• Space