System-of-systems test planning in a complex joint environment

Abstract

Force Transformation requires a much greater emphasis on testing joint warfighting capabilities. A unique challenge in assessing the effectiveness and suitability of systems in the joint environment is the multitude of possible interactions and outcomes in a system-of-systems construct. Because of resource constraints and the complexity of conducting live, virtual, and constructive testing in a joint mission environment, the Joint Test and Evaluation Methodology (JTEM) program is interested in determining if analytical techniques, like Modeling and Simulation, can be applied to understand the relationship between system-of-systems performance and joint mission effectiveness. As a proof of concept, a Network Enabled Weapon (NEW) was chosen as a framework for this study. This thesis uses an agent-based distillation, which is a type of computer simulation, to model the critical factors of interest in a NEW engagement without explicitly modeling all of the physical details. Using cutting-edge experimental design techniques, the computer model was run many tens of thousands of times, with the results being analyzed to determine the critical parameters required for mission success. The analysis determined key interactions in NEW system performance and provides JTEM with a framework for efficiently conducting testing in a live environment. Specifically, the results indicate sensor range of a third-party ground controller, target speed, NEW impact radius, and weapon accuracy as the key factors affecting system performance.