PALO ALTO, Calif., 6 March 2008.Modeling and simulation (M&S) has become a much sought after technology in the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. M&S applications range from the initial stage of design to the last stage of deployment. Overall, M&S helps to reduce the cost of prototyping and manufacturing by offering A&D researchers the ability to test their innovations earlier in the development process.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, >"Modeling and Simulation for Aerospace and Defense Applications,"
"The three major applications of M&S in A&D are military strategies for commanding and control, mission training and simulation, and performance evaluation and testing," notes Frost & Sullivan research analyst Yin Fern Ko. "New M&S techniques such as multi-scale resolution, agent-based and human behavior-based M&S are also being developed to serve current and anticipated military applications."
However, the groundbreaking M&S techniques have yet to achieve standardization due to their diverse application. Researchers could facilitate standardization by using a general framework for each M&S technique. By utilizing creative solutions, researchers have already addressed technical issues such as integration, interoperability and composability in current technologies.
"In the future, various M&S techniques will be integrated to form a system that facilitates military decision-making by referring to the factors considered in the simulation," notes Ko. "Technology enhancements and strong industrial partnerships will go a long way in driving the development of M&S in A&D."
Increasingly, the U.S. Department of Defense focuses on technology management while leaving the responsibility of M&S solution development to the A&D industry, especially tier-1 A&D companies. The industry has met the challenge by forming strong company partnerships while also working closely with the government to form a comprehensive industrial strategy.
Moreover, research funding provided by non-profit organizations or industry and government sources present opportunities to collaborate with research fellows and students. This move will help train more students in M&S, thereby satisfying the demand for experienced M&S researchers.
Since simulation and empirical studies require solutions that can facilitate decision-making, M&S techniques grow simultaneously with advanced computing systems and architecture. The development of more advanced computing systems with greater computing power will further support future M&S solutions.
