Verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) considering military and defense characteristics

Abstract

In this paper, we identify the characteristics of modeling and simulation (M&S) for military and defense and propose the method of verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) using the identified characteristics. M&S has been widely used for many different applications in military and defense, including training, analysis, and acquisition. Various methods and processes of VV&A have been proposed by researchers and M&S practitioners to guarantee the correctness of M&S. The notion of applying formal credibility assessment in VV&A originated in software engineering reliability testing and the systems engineering development process. However, the VV&A techniques and processes proposed for M&S by the research community have not addressed the characteristics and issues specific to military and defense. We first identify the characteristics and issues of military/defense M&S and then propose techniques and methods for VV&A that are specific for military/defense M&S. Possible approaches for the development of VV&A are also proposed.