FEB09-02: Modeling and simulation for Navy test and evaluation technical forum
From: NSWC Port Hueneme Command Communications

PORT HUENEME, Calif. - The future of modeling and simulation in test and evaluation of surface ship integrated warfare systems was the subject of a national technical forum sponsored by the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2.

"This event was an important collaboration across the Integrated Warfare Systems Test and Evaluation Enterprise," said Tim Troske, NSWC Port Hueneme technical director. "We had distinguished speakers who shared their perspectives on a common test and evaluation roadmap, leading to reduced risk, while leveraging assets, resources and data."

Modeling and simulation (M&S) is used throughout the warfare systems acquisition lifecycle as a tool for both developmental and operational testing phases. The Navy uses M&S because it is less expensive than testing in a real environment, it provides analytical system performance data, reduces risk, allows introduction of various environments and conditions (such as high sea states) that can't be executed safely in live testing. M&S also helps validate test scenarios; provides pre-test predictions; post-test analysis and is particularly effective at providing insight into system-of-systems end-to-end performance for scenarios that are either unsafe or cost prohibitive to test empirically.

The forum provided a venue for attendees to share ideas, challenges, and lessons learned; identify best practices; generate innovative concepts; and offer technical solutions with experts throughout the integrated warfare systems modeling and simulation and test and evaluation communities.

On the agenda were six influential keynote speakers, 22 technical presentations, and numerous workshops, panel discussions, and tutorials with perspectives on the theme provided by sponsors, users, and practitioners.

Most M&S presented at the technical forum for integrated testing were computer based. However, the important role of physical models and system surrogates, such as aerial targets, were also discussed. The broad spectrum of models discussed ranged from large integrated infrastructures encompassing many systems to individual models of warhead kinematics.

"The Navy spends a sizeable amount of money on test and evaluation and modeling and simulation," said Terry Johnson, PEO IWS project manager, "So, it's in our best interest to foster best practices with everyone throughout the enterprise."

The biggest lesson shared during the forum was that efficiencies in M&S, as well as test and evaluation, can be achieved through a shared knowledge of methodologies, assets, resources and data. These efficiencies can make systems cheaper to procure, reduce risks in development and execution, and speed capabilities to the warfighter.

NSWC Port Hueneme is a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command providing the Fleet with weapon system in-service engineering, logistics, and test and evaluation. PEO IWS is responsible for all Navy surface ship combat systems, surface to air missile systems, radars, launchers, electronic warfare systems, anti-submarine warfare systems, and gun systems. PEO IWS is also responsible for the integration of these combat systems and the warfare elements into the Fleet.

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