Architecting Joint Command and Control System of Systems Capability Certifications

Abstract

Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems, each originally designed to address a single warfighting function, have been assembled into an interdependent C4I System of Systems (SoS). The C4I SoS continues to evolve, without overarching capabilities-based performance requirements. Without requirements, there is no practical, repeatable, and objective process to assess changes to the SoS. This project applied a disciplined systems engineering process to design a Joint C4I Capability Certification Measures (JC3M) system. JC3M can be used to define performance measures for a C4I SoS, determine baseline SoS performance, assess proposed SoS changes, and monitor SoS performance. Modeling and simulation tools were used to project the performance of three existing alternatives and two new alternatives. A Life Cycle Cost Estimate (LCCE) was generated for each alternative. An Analysis of Alternatives compared performance and cost. The Joint Test and Evaluation Methodology Capability Test Methodology (JTEM CTM) was projected to provide slightly better performance than other alternatives, at the median LCCE. The results were a recommendation to monitor JTEM CTM as it completes development, and employ the JTEM CTM in a C4I SoS evaluation to confirm its estimated cost and performance.