Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/196923
mODELING & SIMULATION m Maritime Warfare Development Lab targets on shore, a particular capability, without specifying what sort of weapon – gun or missile – could actually be mounted on the vessels. "[It is] a possibility that we may be operating in a littoral zone and need to influence events ashore. It could be a gun, it could be a missile, it could be both. What do we really think the ships will do and what do they really need?" Other branches of the navy will be developing other specifications. The warfare centre will also play an active role in evaluating the bids the RCN receives, using what Young refers to as their "robust modeling and simulation capability." Speak of simulation in a military context, and you might first think of the sorts of trainers used by the air force to train pilots. Those are simulators. Simulation is something different, however. These are complex software tools for playing out tactical problems in the two "environments" – above water and undersea – that warships operate in. Some of the tools are the creation of the centre, "others we do in cooperation with our allies," says Young. "Two of the models we use are commercially available." One, Odin, used for simulating undersea warfare, gives an idea of the versatility of these modeling tools. Licensed from Atlas Electronic (UK), Odin can be used to run realistic scenarios, ranging from a single torpedo launch to complex operations involving a group of ships aided by sonobuoy-dropping helicopters chasing a submarine. False contacts, wake noises, all the variables of undersea warfare are included. These simulation models are constantly updated and modified in the light of new experience, "the same way a company might buy Windows and play with it," says Young. "When the [CSC] bids actually come in, our role will then be to take the bids and be part of the evaluating process. These bids aren't just a folder, they are binder after binder of information," he says. Using this information the experts at the centre will be able to create a virtual copy of each proposed design and then test its war fighting capabilities. "We will be able to run literally thousands and thousands of scenarios," Young says. "We'll be able to kick the tires on all those bids. If we said, 'We want X, Y and Z,' and the bidder comes back to us saying, 'Here's my X, Y and Z,'" thanks to the simulations and modeling, "we will be able to say 'Well, X actually never works.' We'll be able to say, 'Look this is what the science tells us.' "My personal belief is that is the right way to do it," he emphasizes. "You get the right answer: no influence other than the capabilities and the model." OUR FOUNDATION IS OUR TECHNOLOGIES OUR MISSION IS EXPANDING YOUR CAPABILITIES To develop innovative solutions that provide the comfort, protection and performance you need, we work backwards. First, we consider the requirements of the end user. Then we assess every element of design and apply the latest technology to develop comfortable, low-burden equipment so wearers can focus on the task at hand. Europe: +44 (0) 1695 727171 scott.sales.uk@tycoint.com North America: +1 800.247.7257 sh-sale@tycoint.com © 2011 Scott Safety ®, ScottSafety.com®. All Rights Reserved. © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 19