Joint Strike Fighter virtual air-to-air combat analysis for the Joint Operational Requirements Document

Abstract

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program conducted two virtual air-to-air combat effectiveness Aircrew System Advisory Panels (ASAPs) at WPAFB in support of the Joint Operational Requirements Document (JORD). In December 1998 the program sponsored a collateralSECRET level simulation to evaluate possible avionics configurations. Trade studies were conducted on proposed radar, infrared, and other weapons system attributes to determine their impact on JSF combat effectiveness in the Defensive Counter Air mission. Pilots from the JSF Operational Advisory Group (OAG), tasked to write the JORD, participated in the event. In September of 1999, Simulation and Analysis Facility (SIMAF) conducted an additional virtual event to further explore the concepts and tactics of the Close Escort and the Self Escort mission scenarios. The focus of the event was to allow the foreign partners of the JSF program to evaluate the performance of the JSF with their legacy aircraft, the F-16. Concept trade studies included various levels of threat and threat capabilities, and for the first time the addition of a surface-to-air threat. The simulations featured medium to high fidelity modeling of radar, infrared, data fusion, and weapon system effects. Pilots flew both JSF and threat aircraft to explore tactics and CONOPS. Analysts collected data to evaluate weapons system performance and gather tactical concepts to guide in the future employment of the weapon system. This multimedia presentation will feature the important UNCLASSIFIED findings of the analytic results. The results have particularly significant implications to the modeling and performance of sensor fusion systems. Finally, the presentation will comment on the role of air-to-air operator-in-the-loop modeling in simulationbased acquisition.