Conceptual interoperability model of NCW simulation

Network centric warfare (NCW) need to be supported by modeling and simulation systems, and the interoperability between different simulation systems is an important aspect to realize cooperation of varied military simulation systems and establish common simulation environment. However, complexities of the NCW and individual military simulation systems make the interoperability difficult to achieve. A large body of work shows that interoperability of NCW simulation is not only a technical problem, but also involves factors like human being´s behavior, modeling mechanism, and application environment of the simulation systems which raises the interoperability complexity rapidly. We believe that modeling is the root where interoperability gaps and complexity problems come from, build a layered interoperability model of NCW simulation with the theory of levels of conceptual interoperability model (LCIM), and put forwards some challenges about how to achieve NCW simulation interoperability.