Verification, Validation and Accreditation: An HLA FEDEP Overlay

With the advent of complex coupled systems and the evolutionary introduction of new technology, the application of modelling and simulation (M&S) activities has increased throughout industry, academia and military domains. The high level architecture (HLA) provides a framework in which individual models (or federates) can be integrated in order to reflect the system characteristics of interconnectivity and interoperability. As the impact of the application of M&S transcends the ´virtual world´, the danger of adverse effects associated with erroneous or unsuitable models or simulation results also increases. The application of verification and validation (V&V) of models and simulation results are intended to ensure that only correct and suitable models and simulation results are used. Under the auspices of the NATO modelling and simulation group (NMSG) 19 and SISO PDG, a V&V overlay of the HLA federation development and execution process (FEDEP) in accordance with IEEE 1516.3 has been developed. This paper presents the key concepts of this V&V overlay