Balancing Performance, Scheduling, and Cost for Rapid Prototyping, Experimentation, and Demonstration Programs Using Modeling and Simulation

摘要

Given the rapid technological advances realized in the defense industry, asymmetric threats present new challenges to the US Navy. Directed Energy (DE), a rapid prototyping, experimentation and demonstration (RPED) initiative, seeks to develop and deliver advanced laser capabilities to the fleet to mitigate the newly discovered capability gaps. As an RPED, DE will prioritize schedule among the traditional acquisition trade-space of cost, performance, and schedule. DE programs will utilize a wholeness approach to minimize excess spending, keep a tight schedule, and meet high readiness requirements, all at best value, with analysis conducted in the early stages of its life. Monitoring readiness of the DE programs includes tracking metrics such as operational availability and mission effectiveness. Evaluating DE design performance during preliminary design reviews, as well as throughout the acquisition milestones, allows NAVSEA the opportunity to make informed trade decisions in the design and production phases. Capturing design trades early in the system lifecycle will both increase Operational Availability, as well as decrease Total Ownership Cost. Additionally, projecting future DE operations based on current design and support considerations, combined with "what-if' scenarios, will provide insight into future capability and required support to meet operational readiness at an affordable cost. This analysis will be used intimately in the acquisition process in the next few years. It is imperative that the results are defensible and reliable, as there is not much time to reevaluate the results before they are put into practice. This also means the models must be constantly updated and recalculated as new data and assumptions are brought to the attention of the program analysts. If properly monitored and updated, this modeling and simulation analysis will assist in the savings of millions of dollars by the DE program, while also helping a high-performing new technology become successfully fielded faster than ever.