Use of Synthetic Environments for the Through Life Delivery of Capability

摘要

The paper explores the relationship of Systems Engineering and Synthetic Environments to the delivery of Capability, particularly Military Capability. This relationship is explored from a through life perspective. The development of Capability trade spaces, their definition, visualization and exploration is considered. Importantly, the paper addresses the need for measurement within these trade spaces and how that overarching system evaluation can support 'Management by Maturity' concepts based upon the Lines of Development. This leads to the development of conceptual and Operational Analysis styles of operation that act, and lead naturally, to the modelling and simulation processes for system development, measurement and evaluation of effectiveness and performance. The impact of these ideas upon the execution of Systems Engineering processes and process lifecycles, and the role of Synthetic Environments, is reviewed. This leads to consideration of a 'new' Systems Engineering Process Lifecycle that offers significant opportunities for cohesive Through Life Management. The major theme of System Evaluation and Measurement is developed through the critical role identified for Synthetic Environments. This is developed further through a delivery mechanism, the 5 Column Model, that enables a consistent 'whole life' programme. This perspective engenders an integrated view of all aspects of the programme based upon continuous and developing system evaluation. Further, this framework is developed and executed on behalf of all system stakeholders and thence supports the overall delivery of military capability in a structured, defined and manageable fashion. The Transformation theme is considered throughout the paper via a series of comparisons, and the discussion considers the impact of and investment necessary to implement the proposed new processes, the process lifecycle etc. on the ease with which these changes, many of which are cultural, may be achieved.