Development Of A Network Centric Electronic Warfare (EW) Simulation To Support EW Acquisition

An analytical method has been developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) to allow the Australian Defence Force a means of comparing Electronic Warfare (EW) technologies, concepts of operation, and force-mix options for Force Level EW (FLEW) operations. By way of background, in its most complex form FLEW may be thought of as the application of Network Centric EW. It is achieved by networking sensors, data fusion centres, command and control systems, and effectors [1]. The analysis of FLEW differs in fundamental ways from the treatment of EW equipment performance or one-on-one engagements. This difference arises primarily from the fact that FLEW deals with groups of assets or individuals within a group under combat situations. Such complex interactions are best analysed using a modelling and simulation tool. Hence, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of EW technologies and concepts, DSTO has developed the FLEW Synthetic Environment (FLEWSE) [1]. To provide the Command, Control and Communications (C3) modelling required in FLEWSE, functionality originally developed for DSTO in their Dynamic Agent Representation of Networks Of Systems (DARNOS) was reused. That is, DSTO was able to use components from a proven NCW system to enhance existing investment in EW modelling. The integration of DARNOS into FLEWSE was performed in several stages. Initially, the software architectures of both systems were analysed and an architecture for the integrated system developed. Developing this architecture required an understanding of the mapping between inputs and outputs for the two systems and the processing concepts used in each of the models (i.e., expected execution order). The architecture was then implemented, and the integration tested using a scenario provided by DSTO. The test scenario was able to successfully demonstrate a significantly improved NCW capability for the FLEWSE system.