System of system trade analysis of AI/ML processing for joint all-domain operations

Future conflicts involving Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) will require an unprecedented scale of standoff targeting against hardened, mobile, and dynamic targets that will only be possible through effective use of sensing, command and control (C2), and targeting assets across multi-domain (space/air/ground/sea) kill chains. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy are critical to enabling effective, scalable, and timely kill chains, but only if applied appropriately to address kill chain limitations, informed by quantitative system of systems modeling and simulation at the data level. To address these challenges, BAE Systems is developing a Virtual System of Systems Testbed to enable detailed quantitative mission level analysis of kill chain performance in a variety of multi-domain scenarios, combining high fidelity platform and sensor simulation with detailed modeling of information flows through the kill chain. The Testbed uses Bohemia Interactive Simulation's Virtual Battlespace 4 (VBS4) to model virtual physical entities, and uses the VBS4 Simulation SDK to pass dynamic scenario data messages for real-time processing by advanced algorithm plug-ins including AI-based information dissemination and Autonomous mission management. In this paper, we will describe the challenges posed by JADO and the critical importance of system of system analysis to inform the application of advanced algorithmic technologies. We discuss the rationale and architecture of the Virtual System of Systems testbed, the technologies incorporated, and the methodologies for system of systems analysis. We will present results assessing system of systems contribution of these technologies to improving mission-level metrics such as latency, scalability, and robustness of kill chain response.