Modeling Space-Based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in Combat Simulations

An analysis of the development of methodologies for representing the performance of commercial, national, and military space and low-earth-orbit assets and their impact on joint operations with a test implementation within the Framework for Capability-based Tactical Analysis Libraries and Simulations (FRACTALS).

DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

During the 2021 Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Gap Forum, space intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) modeling was identified as a current/near-future modeling gap. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Analysis Center (DAC) submitted an Army M&S Enterprise Capability Gap white paper (Harclerode, 2021) describing a course of action to help fill this gap. The Army Modeling and Simulation Office has funded DAC to develop methodologies for representing performance of commercial, national, and military space and low-earth-orbit assets and their impact on joint operations with a test implementation within the Framework for Capability-based Tactical Analysis Libraries and Simulations (FRACTALS).

FRACTALS is a DAC-developed simulation framework that provides the generic architectural “building blocks” to model, simulate, and assess performance of ISR systems in tactical-level missions and tasks. FRACTALS serves as a testbed for the various ISR performance methodologies developed at DAC to be incorporated into Force on Force simulations via methodology documentation and/or data. FRACTALS also serves as an analytical tool within DAC to execute performance analysis comparisons of ISR systems in tactical settings.