Improved Situation Awareness and Combat Training For USAF C2 Units

摘要

Pilot and aircrew training enhancements within the Air Combat Command (ACC) Distributed Mission Training (DMT) Program have made great advances in distributed learning opportunities. These aircrew-training improvements still need refining to go beyond basic unit-level training events especially to include the command and control (C2) arena. C2 was not part of the original baseline due to competing funds and an inability to interface with systems which were not DIS, or HLA compliant. Technology is changing and methods to deliver simulation to the many facets of the C2 architecture are available, affordable and robust. It is these considerations which has driven the USAF, USN and the US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) to invest in the simulation drivers capable of providing the necessary stimulus to enhance combat training for the command and control components whether at the unit level or in a theater-level mission rehearsal. Joint Semi-Automated Forces (JSAF) Simulation as a government-owned simulation system based on the DARPA Synthetic Theater of War (STOW) development provides the necessary backbone to a scalable, entity-level simulation to meet the diverse C2 needs. JSAF's open architecture object-based models is adaptable to each and every facet of the C2 Weapon System. JSAF can populate the Common Operational Picture (COP) for enhancing the coup d'oeil for the Operational Art of Warfare or be used for the X versus X entry-level mission-ready intercept training for weapons directors in an AWACS or a MCE. JSAF is written with Linux and is capable of interfacing with other open source software (OSS) and multiple OS file-sharing tools to enhance performance in after-action review and training analysis. There are many changes in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) these days however, none are more innovative than taking simulation to the customer in the field. Fleet Battle Experiments (FBE) does just that in an affordable manner and now the military is taking advantage of M&S advances in affordable computer processing and visualization techniques. Currently, the Navy Warfare Development Center (NWDC) FBE program is in full gear, working directly with the numbered fleet commanders to test current and future warfighting concepts, technology, and doctrine for the navy in the field. The USAF has furthered its training simulation for aircrew training in DMT and has now embarked on prototyping and bedding down various solutions to C2 training using JSAF in order to improving C2 Weapon Systems Situation Awareness with advanced distributed simulation training. This paper describes the undergoing and proposed methods to enhance training for the various areas of the C2 Weapon System. It will discuss the current C2 architecture and areas where training and experimentation is being enhanced using JSAF simulation for the USAF, USN and JFCOM. Whether it's a Weapons Controller or a duty officer in an Air Operation Center, training is available. JSAF is one of the available training aids adapting and growing. It is certainly an important development continuing to gain mainstream acceptance and these developments deserve attention as they continue to grow in importance and impact.