Extensible Battle Management Language as a Transformation Enabler

Abstract

This article addresses a new approach to the longstanding problem of interoperating military command and control with combat simulations. There is great potential benefit in such a capability, both for more effective training and as a “what if” capability during military operations. The authors describe the Battle Management Language (BML), an unambiguous means of describing military operations to people, simulations, and robotic forces. The process that developed the BML and its extension into the realm of Web services are described. The new capability is projected to be an enabler for the ongoing transformation activities in the U.S. Department of Defense. Integrated with the Command and Control Information Exchange Data Model (C2IEDM), BML, as extended through Web services, provides a path to improved interoperability within and among U.S. military services and their allied/coalition partners.

Keywords

Battle Management Language (BML)Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF)Command and Control Information Exchange Data Model (C2IEDM)command and control (C2)doctrine

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Northrop Grumman Information Technology . 2003. Battle Management Language proof of principle prototype demonstration. Tech. Rep. N61339-00-D-0708/0005, CDRL A003.

Ogren, J. , and M. Fraka . 2001. EAGLE Combat Model Battle Management Language (BML) . Powerpoint presentation, BML Symposium, April 25, Fort Leavenworth, KS. Accessed from http://www.simci.org/html/librsry.html

Salisbury, M. 1995. Command and Control Simulation Interface Language (CCSIL): Status update . MITRE Informal Report, Twelfth Workshop on Standards for the Interoperability of Defense Simulations, March.

Kleiner, M. S. , S. A. Carey , and J. Beach . 1998. Communicating mission-type orders to virtual commanders . In Proceedings of the 1998 Winter Simulation Conference, December.

Carey, S. , M. Kleiner , M. Hieb , and R. Brown . 2001. Standardizing Battle Management Language: A vital move towards the army transformation . Paper 01F-SIW-067 presented at the Fall Simulation Interoperability Workshop, Orlando, FL.

Headquarters Department of the Army . 1997. Field manual 101-5-1: Operational terms and graphics. Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army .

Carnevale, R. 2001. Joint common database overview. Monmouth, NJ: Program Executive Office (PEO) Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (C3T) Knowledge Center .

Headquarters Department of the Army . 2001. Field manual 3-0: Operations. Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army .

Headquarters Department of the Army . 2003. Field manual 7-15: The army universal task list. Washington, DC: Headquarters Department of the Army .

10.

Joint Staff . 2002. CJCSM 3500.04C: Universal joint task list. Washington: Defense Technical Information Center .

11.

Sudnikovich, W. , M. R. Hieb , M. Kleiner , and R. Brown . 2004. Developing the army’s Battle Management Language prototype environment . Paper 04S-SIW-115 presented at the 2004 Spring Simulation Interoperability Workshop, Crystal City, VA.

12.

Agile Commander Advanced Technology Demonstration. 2001. Accessed from http://www.c2d.c3sys.army.mil:443/agile.htm

13.

Brutzman, D. , K. Morse , J. M. Pullen , and M. Zyda . 2002. Extensible Modeling and Simulation Framework (XMSF): Challenges for Web-based modeling and simulation. Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School .

14.

Hieb, M. R. , W. P. Sudnikovich , A. Tolk , and J. M. Pullen . 2004. Developing Battle Management Language into a Web service . Paper 04S-SIW-113 presented at the Spring Simulation Interoperability Workshop, Crystal City, VA.

15.

2003. Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP): The C2 Information Exchange Data Model (C2IEDM). Greding: Multilateral Interoperability Programme .