8.2.2 Verification and Validation as it Applies to Simulation Based Acquisition

Abstract

AbstractWeapon systems developed for the United States military are provided by government contractors with the hope that their system is selected for large‐scale production and use. In the past the contractor would build and provide to the military fully functional systems that were then tested to see how well they worked and whether they fulfilled the requirements. As weapon systems have grown more complicated, the ability of the contractor to build multiple systems to support testing has decreased dramatically due to the expense of those systems. In light of this fact, the Department of Defense, in cooperation with industry, has initiated a new procurement program that utilizes modeling and simulation (M&S) to augment weapon system testing. This program is titled Simulation Based Acquisition (SBA). An important factor involved with SBA is the verification and validation of the modeling and simulation models used to supplement system testing. In this paper I will describe the development of SBA, and how it augments system testing. Next, I will address the role modeling and simulation plays in SBA and how it supports system testing. I will then discuss how verification and validation is used for the M&S models as well as the results of system testing.