MDS develops and applies the AFSIM Framework in support of various mission objectives for Air Force, Navy and Joint sponsored initiatives. This work includes exploration in the areas of multi-platform/multi-sensor simulation for manned and UAV/UAS and other defense platforms in conventional and anti-access/area-denial (A2AD) scenarios. M&S discovers and refines capabilities in the areas of energy/resource management, variable mission effectiveness across contested domains, and physics based analysis of sensor performance (e.g. algorithms related to passive and active ranging or radar and IR search and track, atmospheric, clutter effects, finding, fixing, and tracking (F2T), and fusion/layered fusion techniques.)  Areas of current and projected development/analysis include: 

​

•  AFSIM based Sensor Processes-Performance/Target Development (e.g. SEARCH: IRST, RADAR; Combined RF/SAR;   
    IMAGING: EO/IR, Hyperspectral, LADAR, GMTI, SIGINT)

•  Multi-sensor/multi platform data fusion and related exploitation scenarios in support of mission level analysis of contested
    environments

•  Engagement/mission effectiveness in adverse and nonadverse; conditions (air-to-air, air-to-ground, kinetic, nonkinetic,
   defensive, survivability)

•  Environmental Effects (Wx)

•  Sensor performance (time track, area, FOV, distance, time,track, on- board processing)

•  Logistic considerations (reliability, availability, basing)

• Technologies/Platforms modeled: Attritable aircraft. Reconfigurable aircraft, Unique sensor tech, Denied environment
   communications, Cyber effects on ISR, Space Systems, Hypersonic systems, Ground-based ISR, Sea-based ISR

•  Identifying capability gaps suitable to application of SUAS technology

​

MDS performs, as example, MS&A focused tasks for the Air Force  at the basic research (6.1), advanced applied research (6.2) and advanced technology demonstration (6.3) levels. Applied research projects are expected to complement, and be coupled with, the needs of the advanced technology demonstration projects. To accommodate this relationship, a M&S spiral development approach is employed consisting of design, development, simulation and flight test activities to discover and develop advanced technologies and system designs.

 

Additionally, the Team supports the efforts Simulation Based Research and Development (SBR&D) Capabilities. These efforts focus on the development of SBR&D capability to conduct trade space analysis to define functional capabilities and attributes of the various technologies such as ISR systems.

 

MDS has a number of AFSIM analyst and developer trained personnel to support efforts, to include Sr. Programmers, and Ph.D's in various related directed energy, optics and atmospheric disciplines. 

​