Constructing a Digital Thread to Support Mission Analysis & System of Systems Engineering

Abstract

AbstractTo keep pace with growing system complexity, Digital Engineering (DE) Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) capabilities must be expanded. A digital thread based approach is required to holistically evaluate measures of effectiveness/performance for missions. This paper describes the approach taken to connect requirements, SysML‐based architecture, and analytical Modeling and Simulation (M&S) yielding an interdisciplinary digital thread supporting mission analysis. The analysis was conducted in support of a multi‐domain (land, air, sea, and space) multi‐platform mission to detect, track, and engage the enemy. The approach used commercially available tools, strategically connected to establish an Authoritative Source of Truth (ASOT) for each piece of data, and gain insights about the System of Systems (SoS) beyond that which the component models could provide on their own. The results of these efforts produced a multipurpose SoS MBSE toolset enabling semi‐automated trade study analysis, while more importantly serving as a basis from which to expand systems engineering activities during subsequent phases of the systems' lifecycle. This paper concludes by identifying further opportunities for MBSE research and development to expand the developed capability.