Using the C4ISR Architecture Framework as a Tool to Facilitate VV&A for Simulation Systems within the Military Application Domain

To harmonize the individual architectures of the different commands, services, and agencies dealing with the development and procurement of Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence (C4ISR) systems, the C4ISR Architecture Framework was developed based on existing and matured modeling techniques and methods. Within a short period, NATO adapted this method as the NATO Consultation, Command, and Control (C3) System Architecture Framework to harmonize the efforts of the different nations. In these frameworks, a C4I Support Plan (C4ISP) has to be developed for every system to be fielded for use in the U.S. Armed Forces, enabling the integration of the special system into the integrated C4I Architecture. The tool set proposed by these architecture frameworks connects operational views of the military user, system views of the developers, and the technical views for standards and integration methods needed to make the network centric system of systems work. The tools are therefore logically a valuable backbone for the verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) process. Because their application is not limited to C4ISR systems, they can also be used in modeling and simulation as a vehicle to connect the requirements to the developed simulation. This application would facilitate the VV&A effort by providing a consistent and complete set of development artifacts (e.g., requirements matrix, conceptual model) that can be assessed to ensure valid representations and behaviors. Applying the C4ISR Architecture Framework to M&S systems being used in connection with a C4ISR system can be additionally beneficial by avoiding duplication of effort and fostering reuse and interoperability throughout the project. To enable the reader to build his own picture of this expanded concept of the framework, this paper provides an overview of the respective tools used and their use in the context of VV&A.