Extensible Battle Management Language (XBML): A Methodology for Web Enabling Command and Control for Network Centric Warfare

摘要

Command and Control (C2) communication in a network centric environment such as the Global Information Grid (GIG) is postulated to be data 'rich'. However, our current situation is that the most critical C2 information, the commander's intent, orders and directives, does not actually flow as data. It is often communicated as 'free text'. While suitable for interpersonal communication, it is not able to support advanced automation or intelligent decision aids due to its inherent ambiguity. Battle Management Language (BML) was developed as a solution to this problem. BML is defined as the unambiguous language used to: 1) command and control forces and equipment conducting military operations and, 2) provide for situational awareness and a shared, common operational picture. It can be seen as a representation of a digitized commander's intent to be used for real troops, for simulated troops, and for future robotic forces. Based on this concept, a prototype of BML was developed demonstrating an actual National Training Center (NTC) Brigade Operations Order. The United States (U.S.) Defense Modeling and Simulation Office's (DMSO) Extensible Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Framework (XMSF) initiative is extending BML based on open, commercial Internet standards. The XMSF prototype demonstrates a web-enabled Extensible Battle Management Language (XBML).