Simulation and Analysis Facility (SIMAF)

Timothy Menke

Air Force Simulation and Analysis Facility, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

M. Walter March

Clear Creek Applied Technologies, Inc., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

The Simulation and Analysis Facility (SIMAF) is a state-of-the-art U.S. Air Force facility

specializing in high-fidelity, virtual (manned), distributed simulation to support acquisition and

test located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The SIMAF is charged with supporting

capability planning, development, and integration in support of Air Force and Department of

Defense acquisition program objectives. Key areas of emphasis include capability development and

integration, network-centric system-of-system development, and electronic warfare.

Key words: Capability development; network-centric system of systems; communication;

horizontal integration; reusability; realistic battlespace environment; distributed test.

Warfare is information-centric, andthe future will continue to rewardthe combatants who are able tocommunicate across the force inreal time, fuse those data, and

swiftly apply cognitive reasoning to those data to yield aninformation advantage over the enemy. Data flowsthrough electronic channels between our forces. TheSimulation and Analysis Facility (SIMAF), located atWright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio, recog-nizes the need to assess those electronic data between ourplatforms; command, control, communications, andcomputers (or C4); and weapons by bringing the bestresources of the cross-domain community togetherthrough a distributed test bed (Figure 1). The SIMAFwas developed to support this objective.

The SIMAF has the ability to conduct large-scalelive, virtual, and constructive (LVC) analytically basedassessments within the facility or connect to other U.S.Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD) orcoalition partners. From the concept of operations andtactics, techniques, and procedures development to theassessment of current or future systems, the SIMAF’sexpertise spans numerous domains (Figure 2). Ouranalytical process is based upon system engineeringprinciples with the objective of fostering software reuseand thereby increasing the return on investment forany dollar spent in simulation. Each assessmentenvironment is uniquely constructed from the analyt-ical objectives and implemented using an object-oriented real-time framework. Software and hardwareintegrated applications are built from that framework.

One of our core capabilities includes the ability to buildunique integrated hardware and software systems,conduct analyses of these systems in a real-timeenvironment, and deliver usable data analysis productsto the acquisition community and to do it quickly. Oneof our primary goals is to ensure these hardware andsoftware systems are designed to allow for reusability:we enable massive reuse of software objects for eachproject. As our software object library grows andrelationships with distributed partners’ mature, projectcompletion times are greatly decreased. Our ability torapidly construct real-time virtual environments inrecord time is based on a system engineering process, areusable object-oriented framework, and automatedtools that allow the team to collaborate across the lifecycle of an assessment. This complex mission isaccomplished by our staff of 20 government employeesand over 70 contractors.

The SIMAF was created by the AeronauticalSystems Center in 1995 to fill a gap in the applicationof manned simulation to support system requirementsdevelopment and refinement. Since 1995, the SIMAFmission has matured from a single-system focus to asystem-of-system focus. Over time, system interoper-ability matured into network-centric or network-enabled warfare concepts. Today, the SIMAF’smission centers upon decision support necessary toassess the horizontal integration of systems via tacticaldata links to generate desired battlespace effects. Ourmission necessarily encompasses foundational capabil-ities vital to the successful execution of any missionsuch as tactical data links and electronic protection and

Featured CapabilityITEA Journal 2009; 30: 469–472

Copyright ’ 2009 by the International Test and Evaluation Association

30(4) N December 2009 469

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attack. Since 2000, the SIMAF has established key AirForce and Department of Defense partners viadistributed simulation to bring the best of breed fromacross DoD in support of our customers.

In 2004, the Air Force–Integrated CollaborativeEnvironment (AF-ICE) was created in response to an

evaluation gap in the ability to access network-centricweapon systems and provide net compliance testingprior to fielding (Figure 3). AF-ICE is the combinationof existing Air Force live (test range assets), virtual(modeling and simulation facilities), and constructive(models) assets in the inventory to evaluate these

Figure 1. Representation of data flow in a virtual environment.

Figure 2. Integrated live, virtual, and constructive environment.

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complex systems. These facilities can be linked togethervia the Joint Mission Environment Test Capability(JMETC). AF-ICE has facilitated partnerships withother organizations within the LVC community.Examples of these partnerships include the GlobalCommand and Control Innovation Center at LangleyAir Force Base, Virginia; the 46th Test Squadron/DataLink Test Facility at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; andother key service and industry partners such as the U.S.Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

In addition to the relationships the SIMAF has withother Air Force and joint DoD test ranges, we havedeveloped a strong relationship with the National Airand Space Intelligence Center and other members of theintelligence community. The combination of theserelationships has allowed us to develop and maintain anability to generate scalable, valid threat environments tosupport real-time assessments in a credible, integrated airdefense system computer–based representation.

Current projects include Airborne Electronic At-tack, Airborne Networking, and Unmanned AerialSystem Sense and Avoid. The SIMAF continues towork with our partners to foster improved air andground modeling and simulation infrastructure insupport of joint network design, development, andassessment.

Given the history of building and prototypingcapability and partnerships, the SIMAF also is among

the thought leaders in facilitating, integrating, andexecuting events with the main focus to capturecredible data useful for decision support. For example,the SIMAF is leading a new activity, Air GroundIntegrated Layer Exploration (AGILE). The objectiveof AGILE is to provide a mechanism to addresscomplex system-of-system assessment objectives bycapturing the overarching customer objectives; render-ing those objectives into requirements; and satisfyingthose requirements via analysis through the planning,technical integration, and execution in an LVCenvironment. The AGILE combined distributed testteam will conduct a technical and an operationalassessment of the information exchange requirementsand broader system interoperability to support con-ventional mission threads, including Joint Close AirSupport, Time Sensitive Target, and Joint Fires. Theprimary goal is to identify (interoperability) gaps,shortfalls, and overlaps with current systems andnetworks supporting Joint Fires within and betweenthe Air Force, Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Army air-to-ground communication layers. Additionally, AG-ILE will assist in defining requirements for theCommand and Control Network Partnership andbuild upon the Joint Forces Command Joint SystemsIntegration and Interoperability Lab concept in a jointdistributed LVC network to support developmentaltest and operational test agencies.

Figure 3. Air Force–Integrated Collaborative Environment.

SIMAF, Wright-Patterson, Ohio

30(4) N December 2009 471

The LVC network for AGILE will be based on theexisting JMETC infrastructure (a long-term SIMAFpartner) tying various sites together for event execution.Potential AGILE Fire sites include the White SandsMissile Range, Central Technical Support Facility,SIMAF, Global Cyberspace Integration Center, Elec-tronic Systems Center, Space and Naval WarfareSystems Command, Redstone Test Center, and 46thTest Squadron. The maturing JMETC environment isbuilt on the foundation of an operationally representativeconstruct that allows programs at all stages in theacquisition process the opportunity to quantitatively test/assess their performance.

Future of distributed testWith AGILE Fire (and other activities), the SIMAF

is partnering with several organizations within the DoDto address critical factors in distributed testing. One ofthose factors is the nature of the historical acquisitionprocess. Our acquisition and test culture is system-centric. Additionally, our acquisition and test processesare serial and independent processes. Finally, the serviceacquisition and test cultures do not readily lendthemselves to the concurrent acquisition and testing ofair and ground systems within a broader, more expansiveconcept of operations. The result is anything butinteroperability. Perhaps the most difficult aspect is tochange the culture and policy. System-of-system inter-operability is reliant on distributed environments. TheSIMAF has a focus on distributed testing, but overallsuccess requires the community to increase the confi-dence level of program managers, primes, testers, andmany other disciplines, to include the operational forceand analysts, that the event data are credible. Further-more, DOT&E needs to capture the continuum ofactivity leading up to a ‘‘system’’ operational test. Anassessment environment that can provide early insightfor program managers and primes through continualassessment opportunities, for all programs big and small,will increase the program managers’ comfort level andwill be seen as a benefit rather than a burden. Thisapproach needs to map to a mission context andcomprise combined service/joint assets so technical andcognitive effects can be understood. Moreover, regardlessof where a system or technology is in the acquisitioncycle—from milestone A through full operationalcapability—this continual assessment/insight–early in-fluence business model provides opportunities to under-stand system attributes in a combined service environ-ment without the gravity of a milestone decision. Using aflexible, disciplined approach within the acquisitioncommunity, from individual acquisition programs toemerging technologies that ‘‘touch’’ many platforms, will

provide the means to effectively use distributed environ-ments with confidence, reducing overall acquisition andtest cost while providing increased confidence thatsystems will interoperate in the field.

Cleared for Public Release on September 22, 2009.Case number 88 ABW-2009-4125. C

TIMOTHY MENKE graduated from the University ofKansas with a bachelor of science degree in aeronauticalengineering in 1985, attended Officer Training School,and was assigned to the Aeronautical System Centers atWright-Patterson AFB. In 1990, he joined the federalcivilian service working in the Air Force ResearchLaboratories and completed his master of science inaeronautical engineering at the Air Force Institute ofTechnology in 1992. Mr. Menke completed his jurisdoctorate from Capital Law School in 1998. His currentassignment, with the Aeronautical System Center, istechnical director in the Modeling and SimulationDivision within the Capabilities Integration Directoratelocated at Wright-Patterson AFB. The Modeling andSimulation Division supports the development of a numberof Air Force programs and capabilities utilizing high-fidelity, often emulative, virtual and constructive simula-tion. Linked with live test resources, the environmentprovides a mission effectiveness–based assessment capabil-ity to provide insight to acquisition and test decisions.E-mail: timothy.menke@wpafb.af.mil

M. WALTER MARCH’s duties include providing input tothe technical direction for the Aeronautical System CenterSimulation and Analysis Facility in the design, devel-opment, and integration of multiservice live, virtual,and constructive (LVC) environments to provide decisionsupport to the U.S. Air Force/Department of Defenseacquisition and test and evaluation (T&E) community.He was the Air Force lead for the Office of the Secretaryof Defense–sponsored Multi-Service Distributed Event;the overall integration lead for the Integral Fire 2007LVC Event, which included 19 multiservice/Joint ForcesCommand sites from across the United States focused onJoint Close Air Support and Integrated Fires; and theintegration lead for Persistent Fire 2009. He has over 22years’ experience in the T&E/Modeling Simulation &Analysis discipline. Mr. March has supported multipleT&E efforts to include the B-2 Bomber. As a supportcontractor, he was the Air Force Operational Test CenterB-2 test manager; primary responsibilities during theInitial/Final Operational Test and Evaluation andForce Development Evaluation efforts included test plandevelopment, pretest planning, test execution, datareduction, data analysis, and report writing. E-mail:martin.march@wpafb.af.mil

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