Mission planner evaluation in the mission reconfigurable cockpit

The application of automation to mission planning has become a popular theme in the formulation of advanced fighter cockpit concepts. This study assessed the survivability benefit of an automated mission planner used during the conduct of a Battlefield Air interdiction (BAI) mission The study evaluated mission planning performances using cockpit configurations with manual and automated planning capabilities. Nine pilots flew four part-mission sorties in two planning modes. Data for cockpit activity, mission planning, and workload were collected to assess task performance. Aircraft position and airspeed data served as input to a digital combat simulation (SUPPRESSOR). The digital combat simulation generated survivability data for the two planning modes. The results showed several benefits from automated and flexible mission planning capabilities. Response times to plan routes to new targets and around pop-up threats were significantly reduced. Workload estimates were lower with automated planning. Mission survivability was increased. The results suggest that cockpit automation for mission planning should be applied in such a way that the system provides a generic solution, based on algorithms, with the capability of the pilot to tailor the plan to meet the unique needs of each situation.