JMETC: ENABLING CAPABILITY FOR DISTRIBUTED TEST

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1 U.S. Air Force T&E Days February 2009, Albuquerque, New Mexico AIAA JMETC: ENABLING CAPABILITY FOR DISTRIBUTED TEST Mr. Chip Ferguson JMETC, Crystal City, VA, USA OVERVIEW With the complexity of new weapon systems growing exponentially, the ability to fully test the system s complete functionality in a live/open air environment is cost prohibitive, and in some cases nearly impossible to accomplish. Therefore, the need for the US Air Force to develop the resources and capabilities necessary for employing a combination of live, virtual and constructive (LVC) test assets is paramount. This is a daunting challenge, not just for the Air Force, but for the entire Department of Defense Test and Evaluation (T&E) community. However, there is an organization and capability already in place within the DoD that will provide the infrastructure and test tools necessary to support Air Force distributed test events and T&E programs. Few organizations in the DoD have the capability to mature technology, produce products, and then to sustain those products to provide a critical capability to the DoD and specifically the DoD T&E community. The Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) under the office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L), is tasked to insure that the DoD (T&E) workforce, infrastructure, and funding will be fully capable of supporting the Department with quality products and services in a responsive and affordable manner. The goal of the TRMC is to provide robust and flexible T&E capabilities to support the Warfighter. As part of it s charter, the TRMC plans for and assesses the adequacy of the Major Range and Test Facility Bases (MRTFB) to provide adequate testing in support of development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of defense systems; it also maintains awareness of other T&E facilities and resources, within and outside the Department, and their impact on DoD requirements. In short, the TRMC is the steward of DoD s T&E infrastructure. To accomplish its charter requirements, the TRMC maintains stewardship of several key investment activities: the Test and Evaluation/Science and Technology (T&E/S&T) program, the Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP), and the Joint Mission Environment Test Capability (JMETC). Each of these programs is inextricably intertwined and mutually supporting to provide the TRMC its unique capability to mature T&E technology, produce the tools needed for T&E infrastructure and then sustain those products for the benefit of the T&E community. The T&E/S&T program was established in 2002 by DoD to develop new technologies and processes for future T&E requirements, as well as to expedite the transition of new technologies from the laboratory environment to the T&E community. The T&E/S&T Program is a 6.3 advanced technology development program that matures applicable 6.2 applied research from DoD Service Laboratories and Test Centers, industry, and academia to provide new capabilities required for the testing of future weapon systems. It is the T&E/S&T program that matures the technology needed for the T&E infrastructure. CTEIP is a Congressionally founded program used to fund the development of critically needed, highpriority T&E capabilities for Joint/multi-Service requirements. CTEIP uses a corporate investment approach to combine Service and Defense Agency T&E needs, maximize opportunities for Joint efforts, and avoid unwarranted duplication of test capabilities. CTEIP projects support two basic tasks: investments to improve the test capabilities base and the development of near-term solutions to test capability shortfalls in support of ongoing operational test programs. JMETC is a DoD corporate approach for linking distributed facilities that will enable T&E and acquisition community customers to evaluate new and legacy systems and capabilities in a Joint context. The C4ISR Interoperability Test and Evaluation Capability (InterTEC), which is a CTEIP initiative, is responsible for an integrated test tool suite for Joint Net-Centric testing in a distributed LVC environment. InterTEC s mission is to develop a suite of test products that collectively produce the capability for use by all Copyright 2009 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. The U.S. Government has a royalty-free license to exercise all rights under the copyright claimed herein for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner. 1

2 Services and Defense agencies engaged in C4ISR technical, system of systems, interoperability certification, and net readiness testing. InterTEC provides an integrated test solution for scaleable, extensible, and operationally relevant interoperability T&E. InterTEC uses the Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA) in its employment and is a critical partner with JMETC. PROVIDING A DISTRIBUTED T&E INFRASTRUCTURE The DoD Testing in a Joint Environment Roadmap Strategic Planning Guidance, FY (November, 2004), promotes the institutional need to test in realistic Joint operational environments. The Roadmap advocates in part for: Establishing a persistent connectivity between battle labs, HITL, simulations, developmental test facilities and live force instrumentation. Using this persistent connectivity to achieve robust live virtual and constructive Joint mission environments for Joint experimentation, development, test and training. This is needed to make comparable the results of these communities. Share test and Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) venues and resources The task of developing and implementing the Joint infrastructure required to achieve this connectivity is the responsibility JMETC. In December 2005, the Program Decision Memorandum II directed the standup of the JMETC program in FY 2007 with responsibility for execution assigned to the Director, TRMC. The JMETC program office was formally stood up October 1, The JMETC mission is to provide a persistent capability for linking distributed facilities enabling DoD customers to develop and test warfighting capabilities in a Joint context. To accomplish this mission, the JMETC program: Maintains a core reconfigurable foundation that enables the rapid integration of LVC resources, Develops products that provide readily available connectivity over existing DoD networks, standard data transport solutions, tools and utilities for planning and conducting distributed integrations, and a reuse repository, and Provides both on-site and help desk customer support for use of the JMETC infrastructure to integrate LVC resources. JMETC provides a DoD-wide capability for the T&E of a weapons system in a Joint context f or Developmental and Operational Testing, Interoperability Certification, Net-ready Key Performance Parameter compliance testing, and Joint Mission Capability Portfolio testing. JMETC will reduce the cost and time to plan and prepare for distributed Joint testing by providing a readily-available, persistent connectivity with standing network security agreements, common integration software for linking sites, and accredited test tools for distributed testing. To support its customers, JMETC also provides expertise in planning, preparing for, and executing distributed test events. JMETC currently has 32 active sites and is in the process of installing 9 more on the Secure Defense Engineering Network (SDREN). We have already achieved 51 instances of re-use that is, 51 times customer programs have avoided having to purchase equipment and resolve security and site connection issues associated with completing an LVC test event. During FY 08, JMETC has supported Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) risk reduction events, and the US Army s Future Combat Systems Joint Battlespace Dynamic Deconfliction (JBD2) Test Event. While InterTEC is not the sole supplier of distributed LVC test tools to JMETC, the test tools developed by InterTEC during spiral development and testing, once they are certified by the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JTIC), will be added to the JMETC tool box and available to all customers thru the JMETC Reuse Repository. 2

3 The graphic below represents the relationship between JMETC and InterTEC Spiral development and testing. Figure 1 InterTEC Integration with JMETC Inextricably Intertwined. JMETC supports InterTEC during their spiral development and InterTEC expands JMETC toolbox with certified C4ISR Test Tools InterTEC Spiral 1 tools, which focused on TENA based tools for distributed netcentric testing, have been accredited and implemented at ten Hardware-In-the-Loop (HWIL) sites and two ranges. Completed in mid- Sept, 2008, the InterTEC Spiral 2 test objectives were to produce an integrated tactical and operational C2 system test capability. The infrastructure for this test event included 23 HWIL sites, 3 ranges, 13 new applications (tools) under test, and 2 new synthetic Battlespace environments. Implemented on the JMETC VPN, the Spiral 2 scenario centered on a Joint Fires mission involving ingesting intelligence on enemy incursions to friendly airspace and territory, the creation, dissemination and execution of an Air Tasking Order, and finally repelling enemy activities in a synchronized Joint operation. JMETC was an integral partner in InterTEC s highly complex Spiral 2 test event and was able to apply past lessons learned to insure the success of the event s LVC infrastructure. During planning for the Spiral 2 event, the JMETC Technical Team successfully injected several important lessons learned during support for previous distributed test events. JMETC stressed that configuration control of the network and related equipment, down to the application level, is a critical key to success. Likewise, JMETC emphasized the need for all participating sites to recognize that a seemingly minor change at one site might have a significant unintended impact on the configuration of equipment at many other sites. Other JMETC lessons learned include the recognition of the need to refine our LVC classified collaboration capability (in this case provided to support Spiral 2), to more readily support future customers. This has been a major topic discussed and worked at subsequent JMETC User Group meetings. Lastly the JMETC Technical Team stressed to the InterTEC Spiral2 sites that managing IP address, ports, and protocols to configure firewalls and routers, requires timely and accurate information. This will be a high emphasis area for JMETC team members during event preparation as we assist other customers plan and prepare for future LVC test events. Due to the strong collaboration between the InterTEC and JMETC programs, there have been quantifiable successes for the Testing in a Joint Environment Roadmap. InterTEC Spiral 1 test tools have been certified by JTIC and fielded. Spiral 2 has allowed InterTEC to produce an integrated tactical and Operational (C2) System 3

4 Test Capability. Following support to Spiral 2, JMETC s infrastructure capabilities have been matured and expanded, and the products and lessons learned are being applied now to future testing programs. As Mr Rob Heilman, the InterTEC Director recently said, InterTEC and JMETC produce a Joint Mission Test Capability for information age warfare. JMETC AND SIAP The Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) Joint Program Office recently announced a decision to use the JMETC framework for its Joint Combined Hardware in the Loop Exercise Phase 5 (JCHE 5). JCHE Phase 5 will test the implementation of the Integrated Architecture Behavior Model (IABM) in a distributed HWIL test configuration. The primary goal of the JCHE Phase 5 is to assess the performance of the IABM against a subset of requirements in the SIAP Capability Development Document. Phase 5 will include risk mitigation activities that will provide the SIAP Joint Program Office (JPO) and participating Program Offices lessons learned applicable to the furtherance of integration and testing of the IABM into Service combat systems such as Aegis, E-2C, AWACS, and Army IAMD. JMETC is providing the SIAP JPO with persistent connectivity among the four JCHE Phase 5 test sites via a secure VPN on the SDREN. JMETC is also providing common middleware (TENA), distributed test support tools (InterTEC), data management tools, and a secure Voice-Over-IP phone capability to support test execution. Lastly, the JMETC Reuse Repository will provide the SIAP JPO access to relevant distributed event test infrastructure information via an on-line web portal. The decision to rely on the JMETC network followed months of stringent risk-reduction testing in which the JMETC framework (VPN, TENA, and InterTEC tools) was tested side by side with the legacy HLA components. One of the deciding factors in selecting the JMETC framework was the dramatic reduction in message latency. Using the JMETC/InterTEC solution, eighty-five per cent of the messages were delivered with less than 30 milliseconds (ms) latency, whereas the previously used integration solution delivered only seventy-one percent of the messages with less than 30 ms latency. Of the remaining messages, only 0.03% had greater than 40 ms latency using the JMETC/InterTEC solution. The previous integration solution had a full 15% that fell into this higher latency category. A second key deciding factor was the significant long-term cost savings provided by the JMETC solution. While the JMETC tools and architecture are free to the DoD test community and updated at JMETC expense, the previously used integration tools are maintained only at great cost on an event by event basis. The decision not only establishes the use of the JMETC framework during JCHE 5, but it extends to SIAP total lifecycle testing currently scheduled to run through JMETC and FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEMS In August of 2008, JMETC provided LVC infrastructure support to the US Army s Future Combat Systems (FCS), Joint Battlespace Dynamic Deconfliction (JBD2). This complex distributed test event, a Joint test using the JMETC infrastructure and technical support, was a massive undertaking successfully connecting 16 sites and 40 unique LVC systems in four time zones. The Combined Test Office recognized that FCS presents new testing challenges that provide needed test capabilities for Systems of Systems on a grand scale, move, shoot, communicate simultaneously, and seamless integration with Joint elements for Network-centric operations. The 2003 and 2006 FCS Test Evaluation Master Plan codified the need for investments to provide needed test capability for instrumentation, Modeling and Simulation and networking. Multiple investments were initiated to provide needed stimulation, data collection and analysis requirements. Many of these investments are maturing and need to be tested. We emphasize that JDB2 was not a demonstration, but an actual distributed test--the FCS program was provided full requirements traceability and MOEs and MOPs were computed based on actual collected data. The complexity and success of the LVC infrastructure provided by JMETC in JBD2 allowed for the execution and free play of 6 unique Joint Fires and Joint Close Air Support key mission tasks supported by the USA, USAF, USMC, USN and USJFCOM. With multiple customers, JBD2 was designed to establish a rigorous test 4

5 context to examine Army FCS test technology requirements needed for testing in a Joint environment. It was a test of the test network, technologies and distributed environment to be used in future test for Milestone C test activities and decisions. Using the test tools supplied by InterTEC, and TENA transported data, the JMETC VPN was able to provide gateways so other architectures could communicate and provide data into the JBD2 scenario. Supported by JMETC, the JBD2 Test Event provided a valuable risk reduction for critical FCS test technology areas, critical network test technologies and distributed test infrastructure technologies. JBD2 also allowed the JMETC network infrastructure to further develop the baseline capability needed to support system of systems level of testing across the Services. This is a major point in describing JMETC maturity and capabilities in support of our customers. During JBD2, in just over an hour of test execution, and in addition to all the scenario specific tactical message traffic involved, an average of approximately one million unique TENA objects were sent across the JMETC VPN. This already large amount of data was then received, successfully, approximately 20 million times by subscriber applications. Simply put, the JMETC VPV performed superbly in this high profile and high data density test event. The use of the InterTEC test tools and JMETC infrastructure, as well as the JMETC on-site and Help Desk customer support, were instrumental in allowing the very complex JBD2 test event to meet or exceed all test objectives. JMETC and InterTEC can do the same to provide for your distributed test requirements. USAF PROGRAMS Besides these two Joint initiatives, the JMETC program is supporting two USAF programs: Persistent Fire and JEFX 02/03. Sponsored by the Air Force Material Command s Simulation & Analysis Facility (SIMAF), Persistent Fire was a distributed LVC event stressing interoperability among systems and is intended to assess initiatives in support of immediate Digital Close Air Support (DCAS) and Network Enabled Weapons (NEW); its emphasis on airborne data links. JMETC was involved in all phases of the Persistent Fire planning and provided the infrastructure needed to support execution in Nov and Dec of Initiatives evaluated during PF 09-01include: Warplan-Warfighter Forwarder II (WWFII): For dynamic re-planning, the Warfighter in CAOC Current Ops does not have the ability to provide precision target data from the Operational Level (i.e. CAOC floor) directly to airborne platforms via M2M interface. Global Awareness Presentation Services (GAPS)/Airborne Web Services (AWS) capability will provide a demonstration to orchestrate prototyped information services that access Link 16 and FAA data. AWS will make that information available to the AWACS, JSTARS and other PoRs Joint Airborne Network Controller (JANC is an M&S tool designed to test Link 16 network connectivity. It simulates the network design and outputs a connectivity simulation. Using this simulation, network designers are given the ability to verify connectivity between Link 16 participants prior to mission execution. Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) has been identified as the F-35 developmental data link providing for interoperability between aircraft operating in denied access areas. Flexible Architecture Secure Transfer (FAST) As the total user group for Link 16 continues to increase, the fixed timeslot structure is forced to use contention access of tactical edge exchanges of information. FAST uses the current timeslot structure with full compatibility with Link 16, allowing for transmit while receive and transmit on demand, providing greater bandwidth to users. Enhancing Link 16 to allow legacy users access to more data is necessary. JEFX is a Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed series of experiments that combines live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) forces to create a near-seamless warfighting environment to assess the ability of selected initiatives to provide needed capabilities to warfighters. JEFX 09-2 will focus on live fly communication and datalink fidelity drills and provide for risk reduction for the JEFX 09-3 live fly event, and will also provide a venue for limited operations thread execution for selected initiatives. Sponsored by the USAF Global Cyberspace Integration Center (GCIC), Langley AFB, JEFX 09-2/3 will integrate the initiatives into the 5

6 warfighting environment, execute operational threads to employ those initiatives, and assess the initiatives against measures of performance to help create desired capabilities. JEFX 09-2/3 will combine LVC operations to create a realistic environment to warfighters for explore emerging technologies and processes. Emphasis will be on experimentation versus training. Live operations will be conducted on the Nevada Test and Training Range and in associated military operating areas. JMETC is currently involved in planning for JEFX 02/3 and will support execution on Feb-April of CONCLUSION As you read this, we in JMETC are celebrating 2 ½ years as an established program. It s been a fast moving 30 months. Together with CTEIP s InterTEC and TENA projects, we have already demonstrated significant success building a reuseable, persistent and readily available distributed LVC test infrastructure. We are supporting multiple DoD test customers saving them significant resources, time and money. We have expanded our VPN well beyond our customers original expectations and have supported multiple and concurrent Joint LVC test events and will have direct application to USAF T&E programs. We would like to stress that JMETC is being developed and matured based on customer requirements. Our list of customers is growing and I expect a rapid expansion this fiscal year of our capability to provide infrastructure and support to distributed LVC testing. More importantly, we have demonstrated how the unique capability of the TRMC to mature distributed T&E technology, provide distributed test tools and infrastructure, and to then sustain those products, has provided for significant time and cost savings for our T&E customers. There is an old adage in the Acquisition Community test early and test often. The InterTEC tools along with the JMETC infrastructure and distributed testing support are designed to allow LVC distributed test customers to do exactly that. Combat efficiency and effectiveness will be the ultimate result with fielded systems that have been verified to work together. JMETC is here now! Potential users should contact the JMETC office for further information on expected requirements for site participation and JMETC schedules. Chip Ferguson JMETC Program Manager th Street Crystal Gateway North, Suite ext 134 DSN ext 134 Biography: Mr. Bernard Chip Ferguson is the Program Manager for TRMC s Joint Mission Environment Test Capability (JMETC) Program. Since joining the Army in 1965, Mr. Ferguson has held leadership positions in combat units, varied level staffs, the Army s Operational Test and Evaluation Command, and Office of the Director, Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Upon retirement from active duty, Mr. Ferguson became a Division Manager and Operations Manager with SAIC supporting test and evaluation in DoD. With his vast experience in distributed testing and evaluation, Mr. Ferguson was selected for his current position in