NATO Modelling and Simulation Group 131 (“Modelling and Simulation as a Service: New concepts and Service Oriented Architectures”) did a first survey on the topic of “M&S as a Service” and provided collective knowledge and experience of a dozen nations and NATO bodies to ACT. Based on this survey and extensive experiences from developing a service-oriented reference architecture for a distributed integrated test bed for the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), this paper outlines a service-based reference architecture for effective and efficient use of M&S.

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This paper shows how the requirements for the next generation of simulation environments are addressed within the proposed reference architecture. The paper also shows the relations between the proposed reference architecture and the NATO M&S Master Plan and identifies missing but required standards. Finally it identifies potential follow-on activities and gives recommendations for possible standardization activities.

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MSG-136 evaluated the MSaaS concept in various experiments. The experimentation results and initial operational applications demonstrate that MSaaS is capable of realizing the vision that M&S products, data and processes are conveniently accessible to a large number of users whenever and wherever needed. MSG-136 strongly recommends NATO and nations to advance and to promote the operational readiness of M&S as a Service, and to conduct required Science & Technology efforts to close current gaps.

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This document provides the Allied Framework for Modelling and Simulation as a Service (MSaaS) Technical Reference Architecture. The aim of this document is to provide technical guidelines, recommended standards, architecture building blocks and architecture patterns that should be considered in realizing MSaaS capabilities. The Technical Reference Architecture uses the NATO C3 Classification Taxonomy as a tool for describing capability concepts and as a repository for architecture building blocks and patterns.

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ABSTRACT

NATO and nations use simulation environments for various purposes, such as training, capability development, mission rehearsal and decision support in acquisition processes. Consequently, Modelling and Simulation (M&S) has become a critical capability for the alliance and its nations. M&S products are highly valuable resources and it is essential that M&S products, data and processes are conveniently accessible to a large number of users as often as possible. However, achieving interoperability between simulation systems and ensuring credibility of results currently requires large efforts with regards to time, personnel and budget.

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Recent developments in cloud computing technology and service-oriented architectures offer opportunities to better utilize M&S capabilities in order to satisfy NATO critical needs. M&S as a Service (MSaaS) is a new concept that includes service orientation and the provision of M&S applications via the as-a-service model of cloud computing to enable more composable simulation environments that can be deployed and executed on-demand.

This paper covers the following topics:

 Simulation Resources Reuse and Tools Demo

 MSaaS Use Cases and Experimentation

 MSaaS Engineering Process

 M&S Ecosystem Implementation Guidance

 Current NATO MSaaS Program of Work

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Modelling and Simulation as a Service: New Concepts

and Service-Oriented Architectures

(STO-TR-MSG-131)

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Executive Summary

Modelling and Simulation (M&S) is a key enabler for the delivery of capabilities to NATO and Nations in the domains of training, analysis and decision-making. M&S solutions have to be integrated seamlessly in future computer information systems capabilities to ensure increased efficiency, affordability, interoperability and reusability. Technical developments in the area of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) may offer opportunities for providing M&S solutions that address current NATO critical shortfalls.

The application of a “services” model to Modelling and Simulation, henceforth called “Modelling and Simulation as a Service” (MSaaS), promises to greatly reduce the barriers of cost and accessibility and to result in greater utility of M&S throughout NATO and the Nations.

MSG-131 responds to a request by Nations and ACT to investigate a “NATO MSaaS” technical concept, and to investigate a supporting Reference SOA.

The general approach taken by MSG-131 is to collect experience from Member Nations regarding the use of cloud solutions and service-oriented approaches within the M&S domain. This survey is used to develop a shared understanding of “M&S as a Service” in the NATO context. In addition, the survey provides a comprehensive documentation of MSaaS case studies and provides an overview of existing service-oriented (reference) architectures in the M&S domain. Based on these existing experiences and architectures, conclusions and recommendations are derived on the way forward.

A main conclusion of MSG-131 is that M&S is a critical technology for NATO and the Nations, independent of whether it is provided “as a service” or not. However, service-based approaches to M&S offer many potential benefits. Therefore, an alignment of “M&S as a Service” with the Connected Forces Initiative (CFI) is required, as the primary objective of the CFI (i.e., sharing and pooling of resources) is closely reflected in MSaaS. Similarly, it is required to align M&S and MSaaS with the NATO C3 Classification Taxonomy as this is the primary tool used by NATO to chart the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (C3) landscape.

MSG-131 identified various open issues with regards to MSaaS, spanning a broad range from technical to organizational questions. In accordance with its Technical Activity Description, MSG-131 recommends investigation of MSaaS in more detail. A Technical Activity Proposal for a follow-on Research Task Group was developed by MSG-131 and endorsed in June 2014. The Task Group MSG-136 (“Modelling and Simulation (M&S) as a Service (MSaaS) – Rapid Deployment of Interoperable and Credible Simulation Environments”) will start its 3-year term in November 2014.

The NMSG has a formal Technical Cooperation Agreement with SISO on the development of M&S interoperability standards. MSG-131 strongly recommends that MSG-136 continues to engage with the SISO community to investigate areas where MSaaS-related standardization efforts are needed. The hands-on experiences with case studies will provide guidance and candidates for architectures, data models and interfaces that could become future SISO standards.

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ABSTRACT

NATO and nations use simulation environments for various purposes, such as training, capability development, mission rehearsal and decision support in acquisition processes. Consequently, Modelling and Simulation (M&S) has become a critical capability for the alliance and its nations. M&S products are highly valuable resources and it is essential that M&S products, data and processes are conveniently accessible to a large number of users as often as possible. However, achieving interoperability between simulation systems and ensuring credibility of results currently requires large efforts with regards to time, personnel and budget.

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In an increasingly complex, competitive and connected world, the challenge is not responding to what we know today, but rather preparing for what tomorrow might bring. The future defence and security users will need a more rapid approach with greater scope to model and simulate the future operating environments. The Modelling and Simulation as a Service (MSaaS) Concept was developed to enable an Ecosystem and meet this need.

In this paper, I will be presenting the following topics:

 Need and Motivation for MSaaS

 MSaaS Benefits and Achievability

 MSaaS Business Model Development.

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ABSTRACT

This paper describes the concept of providing Modelling & Simulation as a Service (MSaaS), which has been developed from research performed by a Thales led team on behalf of the scientific branch of the UK MOD (Dstl). It describes an MSaaS ecosystem comprising M&S Resources, Registries, Repositories, process, infrastructure and tools. A key principle of MSaaS is the reuse of Modelling & Simulation (M&S) resources, which is facilitated by the use of Registries and Repositories. Different technologies are described for deploying simulations to cloud based environments; these include, virtualisation, containerisation and the use of ‘Infrastructure as Code’.

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The paper describes use cases that illustrate the application of MSaaS and a cloud based simulation that was implemented to investigate and demonstrate the MSaaS concept.

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NATO and nations use simulation environments for various purposes, such as training, capability development, mission rehearsal and decision support in acquisition processes. Consequently, Modelling and Simulation (M&S) has become a critical capability for the alliance and its nations. M&S products are highly valuable resources and it is essential that M&S products, data and processes are conveniently accessible to a large number of users as often as possible. However, achieving interoperability between simulation systems and ensuring credibility of results currently requires large efforts with regards to time, personnel, and budget.

更多

Recent developments in cloud computing technology and service-oriented architectures offer opportunities to better utilize M&S capabilities in order to satisfy NATO critical needs. M&S as a Service (MSaaS) is a new concept that includes service orientation and the provision of M&S applications via the as-a-service model of cloud computing to enable more composable simulation environments that can be deployed and executed on-demand. The MSaaS paradigm supports stand-alone use as well as integration of multiple simulated and real systems into a unified cloud-based simulation environment whenever the need arises.

NATO MSG-136 (“Modelling and Simulation as a Service (MSaaS) – Rapid Deployment of Interoperable and Credible Simulation Environments”) investigated the new concept of MSaaS with the aim of providing the technical and organizational foundations to establish the Allied Framework for M&S as a Service within NATO and partner Nations.

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The Allied Framework for Modeling and Simulation (M&S) as a Service (MSaaS) is proposed by NATO MSG-136 as a permanent service- and cloud-based M&S ecosystem for use by NATO and partner nations. The framework is designed to aid stakeholders to utilize state-of-the-art service-oriented and cloud-based methodology and technology to achieve interoperability between participating simulation systems and ensuring credibility of results. This paper presents the reference architecture that is currently developed as part of the technical concept for the Allied Framework for MSaaS. The reference architecture is structured on The Open Group SOA Reference Architecture, while its contents is supplied via the NATO C3 Taxonomy in the form of architecture building blocks and architecture patterns. The MSaaS Reference Architecture is not a final product. It will change over time as new architecture building blocks and patterns are identified and added, and existing ones modified and improved.