The Modelling and Simulation of Integrated Battlefield Cyber-Kinetic Effects

Abstract

Despite the academic and military interest in the use of combined cyber-kinetic effects in future warfare, there is little that seeks to scientifically analyse the impact of combined cyber and kinetic military action. Current approaches to simulation focus on either the physical or cyber, but there are no current simulation approaches that combine these two domains. Military simulations in particular favor physical domains over cyber ones, relegating the uniqueness and nuances of cyber a second order consideration. Future warfare will incorporate a combined multi-domain conflict, and this includes cyber. To effectively simulate this, the uniqueness of each domain must be considered, including the interaction between domains to produce combined effects. This work introduces the Battlespace Integrated Cyber-Kinetic Effects (BICKE) simulation framework. The BICKE framework is designed specifically to combine the cyber and physical domains for the purposes of simulating mission impact. There is a requirement for researchers to measure the synergistic effects across domains.