There are a large number of models that predict the behavior of electronic warfare (EW) weapons systems and their components. Most of these model a single sensor, source, or environmental characteristic. However, multi-sensor technology is becoming increasingly common and the battlefield is constantly evolving, leading to new tactical situations. To meet the rapidly changing operational requirements, new EW systems are often added to current operational architectures, either federated or fully integrated. In particular, self-protection countermeasures are retrofitted into operational aircraft to add a capability that was not available or thought not to be necessary when the aircraft was built. Consequently we add into the initial self-protection suite of the aircraft without a good tool to evaluate how the new component will operate as part of the new system of systems. To support test and evaluation planning and analysis, we need an architecture that will allow models to be combined within the same simulation framework. ORION addresses this problem with the Umbra simulation framework, developed by ORION and Sandia National Laboratories. Umbra addresses the "middle layer" of simulation between high-level mission analysis tools such as DIS & HLA-based military simulators and low-level engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB. A key element is its ability to model the topology of the integrated system being simulated, allowing simulations with asymmetrical levels of fidelity/detail and a progression from simplified conceptual exploration to realistic hardware-in-the loop or constructive simulations. This also enables Umbra to quickly incorporate existing models. ORION and Sandia have developed a module library which covers areas important in EW modeling, including RF propagation, battlefield communications networks, and autonomous land and air vehicles. Finally, Umbra was designed with scalability as a primary goal. This paper explores the use of Umbra in EW simulation by investigating the feasibility of integrating several existing models relevant to the AN/AAR-47 missile defense system. Although we have chosen a specific optical system for our initial demonstration, the applicability of the Umbra simulation and integration framework covers all EW.
展开▼