Simulation to support operational testing: a practical application

The paper describes a combined effort between The Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity (MCOTEA) and the MITRE Corporation to exploit M&S to support operational test (OT) of the Predator Short Range Assault Weapon (SRAW). When applied appropriately, the cost benefits of using simulation assisted testing can be substantial. The March 23, 1998 edition of Aviation Week and Space Technology contains an article entitled “Better Modeling Will Alter the Culture of Flight Testing.” The first sentence reads: “Over the next decade, budget pressures and a growing dependence on modeling and simulation will alter the philosophy and methods of flight testing military aircraft and weapons.” The Predator simulation system provides an example of how simulation can be applied to the system development process to help reduce cost and ensure a higher quality product. The success of the Predator simulation system shows that with a complete, coherent VV&A process in place, a simulation system can be developed to provide valuable input to the design, development, testing and training phases of the system development process