Adapting to the Future of Warfare
The landscape of warfare is changing faster than ever before. To keep pace, the military have to be willing to let go of traditional methods and adopt recent technologies and methods. The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation is playing an important role on this effort, working to develop recent systems, train warfighters, and assess the complexities of a changing battlespace.
A Changing Landscape
The way wars are fought has modified significantly through the years. After the Vietnam War, the military created various training environments to cut back combat losses. For example, the Air Force’s Red Flag exercise and the Navy’s Top Gun program were established to supply realistic air-to-air training. However, with the advancement of technology, these traditional training methods aren’t any longer sufficient. According to Col. Robert H. Epstein, commander of the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation, “Our enemies have access to the identical technology we’ve got, and our ranges not provide the identical experiences they used to.”
The Need for Virtualized Synthetic Environments
The military can not rely solely on physical training ranges to organize for combat. Instead, they need to turn to virtualized synthetic environments to simulate real-world scenarios. This approach allows warfighters to coach in a more realistic and protected environment, without revealing their capabilities to potential enemies. As Epstein explained, “We don’t need to present away all our capabilities by radiating in free space, so it’s driving us an increasing number of to determine how we are able to go right into a virtualized synthetic environment to permit us to do this training that we predict we’ll see in combat.”
Team Orlando: A Collaborative Alliance
The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation is a component of Team Orlando, a collaborative alliance that features all military branches, industry, and academic organizations. This partnership relies in Orlando, Florida, which is taken into account the epicenter for modeling and simulation training. By working together, Team Orlando is in a position to leverage the expertise and resources of its members to enhance modeling and simulation. As Dr. David Wells, deputy director of the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training, noted, “We sit here inside partnership buildings that house each military and University of Central Florida researchers and academics, all working together to enhance modeling simulation.”
Preparing for the Future
The military must all the time be prepared for what’s coming next. The simulated environments being developed by Team Orlando are designed to drive innovation and advancement. As Epstein said, “You need to be ready for what’s coming next, and that is what the simulated environments we’re attempting to create are going to drive us to.” By staying ahead of the curve, the military can make sure that it’s all the time able to face recent challenges and threats.
Always Advancing
In today’s digital age, technology is advancing rapidly. The military must keep pace with these advancements to stay effective. Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are particularly essential, as they will provide realistic and immersive training experiences. As Dr. Alethea Duhon, technical director on the Air Force Agency for Modeling Simulation, explained, “It’s a digital age. Virtual reality just isn’t unusual. Rapid change is the norm immediately. So, yes, VR and augmented reality technologies are of giant importance in the way in which we innovate moving on, because that is what this generation is used to.”
Creating Realism for Future Fights
The ultimate goal of the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation is to create realistic training environments that may prepare warfighters for the challenges they are going to face in the longer term. As Epstein said, “Everything we’re doing today is creating the realism crucial to fight the longer term fights and the expandability to include the threats that might be coming versus coping with yesterday’s fight.” By leveraging the most recent technologies and innovations, the military can make sure that it’s all the time able to face whatever challenges come its way.
Conclusion
The landscape of warfare is changing rapidly, and the military must adapt to maintain pace. The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation is playing an important role on this effort, working to develop recent systems, train warfighters, and assess the complexities of a changing battlespace. By leveraging virtualized synthetic environments, collaborative alliances, and the most recent technologies, the military can make sure that it’s all the time able to face whatever challenges come its way. As the military continues to evolve and innovate, one thing is for certain: the longer term of warfare might be shaped by those that are willing to adapt and embrace recent technologies and methods.
