Distributed Mission Operations Gateway

ABSTRACT: The U.S. Air Force (USAF) uses multiple systems and simulators to provide training for a broad set of distinct but interrelated missions and roles. These systems operate on an array of hardware and operating systems using a variety of network protocols and software. To enable systems to work together and provide an integrated training experience, standardized networking protocols such as distributed interactive simulation (DIS) and high-level architecture (HLA) have been developed and adopted. However, many systems in use are incompatible with these protocols, and development costs associated with adding the required capability are untenable, leading to fragmented and stove-piped training solutions. This limitation prevents legacy systems from participating in Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) events and from operating on USAF and Air Education and Training Command (AETC) enterprise architectures where commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) PC hardware is required. To achieve the ultimate goal of integrating legacy training systems into DMO training events, Technology Solutions Experts, Inc. (TSE) will develop a network gateway application called XGate. Underpinned by TSE"s existing USAF SBIR technologies, XGate will be capable of integrating legacy USAF training systems into DMO events by translating between data formats used by legacy system protocols and standardized protocols (e.g., HLA and DIS). BENEFIT: TSE will target both the military and private sectors, as well as explore the potential for access by other sectors. One of the hallmarks of XGate will be its data-agnostic design, meaning it will accept any data provided by the plugins. As a result, the capabilities of XGate will be entirely defined by the plugins connected to it, enabling seamless transition to other domains such as other DoD or corporate networks that have varying network protocols and data requirements.