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USAF Wargaming:�Advocating Aerospace Power

Matthew Caffrey

AF/XOMW

Warfighting Support

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Air Force Wargaming

  • What is wargaming doing for today’s Air Force?
  • Where are we going?
  • How are we getting there?

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What is AF Wargaming?

Operators Using Simulation�for�Education, Training, and Readiness�

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Wargaming Benefits

  • Provides New Training Capabilities
    • Battlestaffs which manage air operations, campaigns, and strategies
    • Combat aircrews in certain tasks
    • VID training
  • Reduces Training Cost
    • Airlift aircrews
    • Air Weapons Controllers
  • Does Not Replace Live, Enhances it

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Quality Approach

  • Requirement
    • Train JFACC, AOC, and Battlestaff
    • Educate AF Line Officers
    • Familiarize Sister Services, CINCs, DoD
    • Explore Opportunities for Efficient Aircrew Training
  • Product - Understand, Represent, and Advance Air and Space Power in Computer-Assisted Exercises (CAXs)
  • Suppliers - ESC, Industry, DoD, Others
  • Task - Conduct and Support CAXs, Seminars, ATDs
  • Customer - Air Component Commander/JFACC

Operators

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The Quality Team

  • USAF Battlestaff Training School (BTS)
  • USAFE Warrior Preparation Center (WPC)
  • Air Force Wargaming Institute (AFWI)

Operators -

Out in Front

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The Computer-Assisted Exercise (CAX)

  • It’s a High-Fidelity Wargame
    • Training exercise
    • Theater or JTF level target audience
    • Computer models used to produce a simulation
  • Supporting Air Force Computer Simulations
    • Confederation of Models - WPC
    • Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM) - WPC and BTS
    • Air Force Command Exercise System (ACES) - AFWI

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Joint Exercises: �The Confederation of Models

Naval

(RESA)

Air

(AWSIM)

Ground

(CBS)

Intel

(TACSIM)

Gnd Log

(CSSTSS)

EW

(JECEWSI)

Marine

(MTWS)

ALSP

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Confederation Exercises

Naval

(RESA)

Air

(AWSIM)

Ground

(CBS)

Intel

(TACSIM)

Gnd Log

(CSSTSS)

EW

(JECEWSI)

Marine

(MTWS)

ALSP

• Ulchi Focus Lens

• Reforger

• Unified Endeavor

• Prairie Warrior

​

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Confederation of Models:�Advantages

  • Relatively good representation of Air Power
  • First joint campaign simulation approved and supported by all Services
  • Simulates the execution of a full-scale theater campaign
  • Reuses, extends existing legacy models
  • Facilitates rapid model evolution
  • Customer support--MRC battlestaffs

Naval

(RESA)

Air

(AWSIM)

Ground

(CBS)

Intel

(TACSIM)

Gnd Log

(CSSTSS)

EW

(JECEWSI)

Marine

(MTWS)

ALSP

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Confederation of Models:�Problems

  • Models were never designed to work together
  • Model interaction requires extensive protocol development
  • Confederation extremely database dependent
  • Kluge of models fails to completely and realistically portray the full range of missions and capabilities

Naval

(RESA)

Air

(AWSIM)

Ground

(CBS)

Intel

(TACSIM)

Gnd Log

(CSSTSS)

EW

(JECEWSI)

Marine

(MTWS)

ALSP

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Joint Simulation System Concept

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USAF

• Air/Space

• Sea

• Ground

• C4I

• Environment

• Databases

USA

• Air/Space

• Sea

• Ground

• C4I

• Environment

• Databases

USMC

• Air/Space

• Sea

• Ground

• C4I

• Environment

• Databases

USN

• Air/Space

• Sea

• Ground

• C4I

• Environment

• Databases

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Army Combat Training Center (CTC) Training Methodology

  • Drives Army Title 10 training--Live and Constructive
    • Implemented in CAXs (Army version is Warfighter Exercise, or WFX)
  • Requires a Stressful Ground Battle
    • Exercises all battlefield operating systems
  • Uses a Professional Opposing Force
    • WCOPFOR at Battle Command Training Program (BCTP)
    • Soviet style doctrine/equipment/etc; does not replicate any known adversary per se
    • Free play encouraged

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CTC Implications for Joint Training

  • Requirement for stressful ground battle holds other Service doctrine hostage
    • Fixed wing air power undervalued; not allowed to reduce stress of battle
  • “Out-of-this-World”ADA arrays attrit airpower unrealistically
    • Wrong lessons can be taught, and seeds of mistrust sown: If the airman flies into the teeth of the threat, he suffers high attrition implies air power can’t survive on modern battlefield; if the airman does not support ground commander’s request, then the ground commander thinks “AF won’t support us.”

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Aircraft Attrition in Recent Exercises

  • REFORGER (Nov 92) -- 30+%
    • Embedded Army CTC exercise
  • ULCHI FOCUS LENS (Aug 93) -- Exact figures unavailable, but attrition was tolerable
    • CTC not embedded
  • III Corps WFX (Dec 93) -- 30+%
    • Army CTC exercise
  • Prairie Warrior (May 94) -- 6%
    • Army Command and General Staff College end-of-course exercise with CTC “flavor” and AF involvement

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AF/XO Position on �CTC Methodology

“We remain concerned about the Army’s Combat Training Center (CTC) methodology. This methodology undervalues aerospace power and forces non-doctrinal employment of airpower to support ground force training objectives. Like you, we want to train and exercise as we expect to fight, but our experience tells us we can’t do this very well with the CTC methodology.”

​

          • AF/XO Letter to ARMY DCS OPS, 25 Jan 94

​

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Prairie Warrior 94

  • Trained the Way We Expected to Fight
    • Joint Pub 3-0 overrode Army Field Manuals
  • Reduced CTC Influence
    • Air Force supported with AWSIM, AOC, controllers, lead-in scenario, ground rules
    • Effective, more doctrinal employment of air power
    • Significantly less air attrition
  • Positive Lessons Learned About Air Power
    • Maintained campaign perspective: Organization, relationships, targeting, air defense, FSCL
  • A Step in the Right Direction--But We Can Still Do Better

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Air Force Wargaming

  • What is wargaming doing for today’s Air Force?
  • Where are we going?
  • How are we getting there?

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Trends

  • CAXs will become more important in doctrine development
  • CAXs will have increasing influence in roles and missions debate
  • CAXs will play a larger role in requirements process
  • CAXs will become the ubiquitous synthetic environment in which we train and analyze

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Issues in Aerospace Power

  • Roles and Missions Consolidation
    • How to draw down and maintain readiness
  • Defense Planning Guidance - 2 x MRCs
    • Contingency responsiveness--campaign
    • Combat effectiveness--campaign
  • CSAF Battlespace Concept
    • Single architecture for improving Title 10 combat effectiveness and Service efficiency
  • Joint Campaign Issues
    • JFACC, JTCB, FSCL, JFFC, Space, AADC

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Simulation Will Help Create A �Truly Realistic Training Environment

CTAPS

APS

Intel Systems

AMPS

WCCS

Ops

Simulators

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W

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Wartime

Operations

Peacetime

Exercises

& Training

Peacetime

Operations

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DoD Simulation Technology Objectives

Seamless, Interoperable Simulations

Virtual

Live

Constructive

Virtual

Live

Constructive

Virtual

Live

Drivers

  • Technology
  • Budgets
  • OSD
  • Commercial industry
  • Operator Involvement

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Which M&S Technologies Will Achieve AF Training Objectives?

  • Constructive Simulation
    • Intelligent Computer-Generated Forces
  • Instrumented Live Simulation
  • Virtual Simulation

Virtual

Live

Constructive

Virtual

Live

Constructive

Virtual

Live

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Constructive Simulation

  • Ideal for Campaign Level Training
    • More tactical entities at less cost
    • Simulation of all tactical entities in a campaign allows live battlestaff to focus on campaign level
    • Enables centralized control, decentralized execution
  • Allows Use of Actual Wartime C4I Systems and Equipment
  • Preserves the Link to Reality
    • The airman is the unchallenged expert on the tactical air conceptual model

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Computer-Generated Forces

  • Intelligent Computer-Generated Forces (IFOR)
    • Simulates a manned aircraft entity
    • Key element of high-fidelity constructive simulation
    • Reduces number of air crews required to be “training aids” or “acquisition aids”
    • AF seamless interoperability with simulations, real C4I
  • Intelligent Computer-Generated Command and Control Forces (CFOR)
    • Simulates a tactical command and control entity, such as AWACS, CRC, ABCCC, ASOC

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“Live Simulation”

  • Aircraft Instrumentation
    • Links live to constructive
    • Provides potential for positive training to both air crews and battle staffs
    • Added credibility--each level validates the other
  • Potential: Provide Campaign-Level Warfighting Familiarization Early in AF Line Officer’s Career

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Virtual Simulation

  • Linked Simulators Provide Unique Mission-Level Training Opportunities
  • Same Advantages as Live
  • Less Money Compared to Live, but Not Effective for All Tasks

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Air Force Wargaming

  • What is wargaming doing for today’s Air Force?
  • Where are we going?
  • How are we getting there?

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XO Aggressively Addressing CTC Methodology

  • Needs To Be Refined for Joint Use
    • Emphasizes force-on-force ground campaign
    • Undervalues air power
  • Should Be Improved Even for Single-Service Use
    • Some negative training
  • Use of the WCOPFOR May Breed Cautious, Tentative Commanders
    • Many WFXs have resulted in stalemated artillery duels

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Joint Campaign Training Objectives

  • Ensure Joint Doctrine is practiced in Joint campaign exercises
    • Scenario IAW Defense Planning Guidance
    • Objectives permit parallel warfare using assigned roles and missions
    • Organization IAW JP 3-0 and OPLANs
    • Logistics and phasing of operations IAW OPLANs
    • C2 relationships defined with full participation from Services
  • Ground Rules Should Reflect Exercise Priorities
    • Eliminate unnecessary artificial constraints

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AF Campaign Training Objectives

Air Power

Understand

Advance

Represent

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AF Campaign Training Objectives

  • Build JFACC Team Proficiency in Campaign Planning and Execution
  • Train Battlestaffs Using Wartime Systems and Equipment
  • Prototype, Develop, and Test Wartime CJTF Systems and Equipment
  • Integrate Critical Functions
    • Logistics
    • Intelligence
    • Tactical C4I on both sides
  • Understand Joint and Service Doctrines

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The Balance of Wargaming

Training

Operational or Tactical?

Service or Joint?

Simulation

Computer or Human?

Training or Analysis?

M&S Technology

Near Term or Long Term?

Pull or Push?

Doctrine

Air Force or Joint?

Advocate or Cooperate?

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The Long Term Solution: �A Common Framework

Commonality /

Control

Centralization / Inflexibility

Unconnected

Models

Confederated

Models

Common

Framework

Single

Supermodel

The Joint

Simulation System

(JSIMS)

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Representing Air Power Tomorrow

  • AWSIM 2.0 (AWSIM/R)
    • Re-engineered for cost-effective future enhancements
    • Open system
    • Object oriented
    • Modern language
    • Robust, extensible architecture
  • NASM
    • Fully capable of representing air power
    • Supports JSIMS requirements, development
    • Interoperable with DIS, ADS

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BACKUPS

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Future Trends in Wargaming

  • Readiness
    • Use of simulation to reduce training costs
  • Training Integration with Acquisition Process
    • Use of simulation to increase warfighter involvement
  • Shared Vision for M&S Technology Direction
    • ADS
    • DIS
    • STOW

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Notes

  • XOMW Flagship Briefing
  • Show Big Issues Facing AF
  • Show Wargaming Contribution
  • Advocate Training Objectives
  • Quit Letting Army Go Force-On-Force and mis-train a generation of officers
  • AF Message to Senior Leaders: CAXs are in the operational world and are important to them

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