C4ISR/Sim Technical Reference Model Applicability to NATO Interoperability

The 1998 Computer Generated Forces (CGF) Conference included a paper [1] which proposed a Technical Reference Model (TRM) for interoperability between U.S. Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance systems (C4ISR) and Computer Generated Force simulations (Sim). This TRM characterized the “type of information that is necessary to pass between C4ISR and CGF systems”. Since then, changes have occurred in technology for interfaces; the uses for interfaces; and the Architecture(s) upon which they are based. In addition, significant changes have occurred in the respective source and target systems that these interfaces connect, namely C4ISR systems and simulations. Finally, substantial interest has been expressed in the availability of C4ISR hosted simulation components, as well as the integration and exchange of components between the two domains. A recent Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Simulation Interoperability Workshop (SIW) paper [2] has proposed substantial changes to reflect the evolution of technology, supported systems, current interface practices, and near term future uses for C4ISR – M&S interfaces. This paper briefly describes the revised version of the TRM. It suggests when and how to use the TRM in reference to NATO Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C3I) system to modeling and simulation (M&S) interoperability or integration efforts. It shows the TRM’s relationship to current NATO models and standards in the C3I domain, as an aid to those concerned with interoperability, integration, or standardization efforts between the two types of systems. The paper explores the use of the TRM in light of NATO interoperability efforts, and reflects on the relationship between the C4ISR/Sim TRM and NATO guidance documents/standards such as the NATO C3 Technical Architecture (NC3TA), the NATO Common Operating Environment (NCOE) Model (NCOM), and others. 1.0 INTRODUCTION In 1998, a TRM for interoperability between C4I systems and simulations was developed and proposed to the 1998 Computer Generated Forces Conference [1]. Since first proposed, the TRM has generated a substantial amount of interest within the US C4I – M&S interface community, particularly within the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) Simulation Interoperability Workshop (SIW) conferences. It has been the focus of several SIW study groups intended to “formulate a broad-based technical model to describe and categorize interoperability of systems or classes of systems” [3,4,5]. The work and discussion of these groups continues, as well as their desire to “leverag[e] existing work and foster development of that TRM into a formal SISO product.” Paper presented at the RTO MSG Symposium on “C3I and Modelling and Simulation Interoperability”, held in Antalya, Turkey – 9 – 10 October 2003, and published in RTO-MSG-022. 1 C4ISR systems are the US DoD functional equivalent to NATO Command, Control, Communication, and Intelligence (C3I) systems