International C2 Journal: Issues
Vol 3, No 1
Guest Editor’s Introductory Remarks
The idea for this special issue was conceived when realizing that Network Centric Operations (NCO), or Network Enabled Capabilities (NEC), increasingly require Modeling and Simulation (M&S) support. We furthermore realized that we have at least two categories of M&S support:
On the one hand side, M&S is needed to evaluate the feasibility of NCO/NEC: simulations can be used to evaluate the constraints from the technical realm, such as necessary band-width, quality of connections, etc, up to the operational necessity, applicability of measure of merits and related metrics, etc. In order to support this, a model hierarchy is needed that allows evaluating and analyzing technical, tactical, and operational aspects and factors. This category emphasizes the support role of M&S for design, experimentation, and training; NCO/NEC is object of the M&S application.
On the other hand side, M&S contributes significantly to the necessary orchestrated set of operational tools military decision makers can and must use in NCO/NEC environments in order to cope with the increasing complexity. M&S applications support orchestrating the agile Command and Control (C2) challenges emerging in modern warfare by taking account of all relevant entities and their relations, the dynamical aspects, the behaviour, the capabilities and the constraints and limitations. As such, the M&S application becomes part of NCO/NCES itself. The use of operational M&S functions is already envisioned for new systems, such as the Future Combat System of the US Army. However, in order to use current M&S capabilities operationally, many challenges have to be met, such as net-enabling of M&S systems, standardizing interfaces for C2 relevant information, verification and validation of M&S capabilities, operationalization of intelligent software agent technology, and more.
Consequently, when preparing this special issue we were looking for contributions to drive the discussion on the issues mentioned above and related questions forward, looking for theoretic contributions as well as examples and lessons learned that could be generalized. The submissions published here underwent an iterative review process resulting in a selection of viewpoints that address various issues of M&S support for NCO/NEC for procurement, development, analysis, training, experimentation, and support of operations.