Contemporary synthetic environments cannot affordably replicate the complexities in tomorrow’s operational environment, thus NATO’s requirements will continue to grow in terms of frequency, breadth, and operational sophistication. The NATO Next Generation of Modelling & Simulation (M&S) tools plan to support geographically separated commands/nations and the complexity of NATO operations with wargaming, experimentation, planning, and training capability focused on the strategic and operational levels of war and other NATO missions.
NATO Allied Command Transformation is sponsoring a NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG) to inform the development of NATO’s NexGen Modelling and Simulation Capability Programme Plan (CPP).
The NIAG Study Group 296 initiated their work with a kick-off meeting on 25-26 July 2023. The NIAG Study Group is comprised of industry partners from 55 different companies from 15 different nations across the alliance.
The primary focus of the study is to harness industry’s insight on current technical gaps and potential opportunities presented by M&S application areas across the Alliance. The study will inform NATO’s efforts to develop a persistent, Modelling & Simulation as a Service (MSaaS), data-centric, web-enabled, modular, single synthetic environment to supply cross-functional, cross-domain benefits for planners, decision makers and warfighters across NATO.
The study group has four main objectives to address the primary focus. First, provide insight on how NATO can develop a common, agreed upon data set to support simulation use across single-domains, multi-domains and application areas. Second, to determine the best mix of simulation architecture and tools to provide the most effective, efficient M&S capability for NATO through a roadmap identifying key technology insertions and relevant standards adoption. Third, reduce risk for the capability programme by providing expertise from industry on the ‘art of the possible’ before significant funds are committed. Fourth, explore how M&S capability can be enhanced (definitions, use cases, maturity levels) by using Digital Twins, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Military Metaverse, emerging & disruptive technologies, and immersive technologies.
The study group organization includes into two major threads (Military Thread and Technology Thread) and includes five working groups.
The Military Thread includes two working groups: 1) addresses wargaming, concept development & experimentation, and training use cases and 2) addresses the necessary DOTMLPFI components of NATO NexGen M&S capability.
The Technology Thread includes three working groups: 1) addresses digital twins, digital transformation, 2) addresses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomy, 3) immersive technologies.
The NIAG Study Group will present their initial findings at the Industry/Interservice Training, Simulation, Education Conference (I/ITSEC) on November 28, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. The NIAG Study Group will provide a final briefing at ModSim World Conference in May 2024 in Norfolk, Virginia. The final written report will be complete in June 2024.