Is DoD simulation ignoring using Ada?????

[srctran@world.std.com (Gregory Aharonian)]

     To what extent are DoD modelling and simulation efforts being encouraged
to do their work in Ada?  Based on general DoD behavior in the past, probably
not much, and based on studies of DoD simulation publications, apparently not
much.

     For example, the November 1994 issue of SIMULATION, a publication of the
Society for Computer Simulation, is dedicated to the topic of "Military
Simulation".  You would think that many years into the regime of the Ada
Mandate, that we would see Ada all through these articles.  Guess again.
Here is a list of the articles with affliations and languages used:

	Simulation Study Aids Halon Replacement Effort for Combat Aircraft
	Air Force AFIT / AFOTEC
	SLAM II

	Real-Time Simulation-Based Planning for Computer Generated Force
	    Simulation
	US Army STRICOM / Univ. Florida
	C

	Performance Assessment of the Dead Reckoning Algorithms in DIS
	Univ. Central Florida for Defense Modeling and Simulation Office
	No language mentioned

	Use of CASE Tools as an Aid to the Verification of Complex Software
	    Systems
	An IVV - mentions DoD 5000.59
	No language mentioned

	Overview of the Air Vehicle Training Systems Demonstration Project
	Boeing / STARS
	No language mentioned


What can one conclude from this limited sampling (plus the published agendas
of other DoD simulation conferences and publications)?  That much like the
rest of DoD programming, Ada is not being used by the majority of the people
involved, and probably never will be (especially with things like SIMNET so
popular).

Once again we see the ongoing hypocrisy of the STARS effort - here a four page
article describing the use of STARS tools on a project without mentioning Ada
once in the article - more evidence of their embarassment of being associated
with Ada.

Finally, in January of 1994, the DoD issued a directive signed by Sec. Perry,
DoD 5000.59, titled "DoD modeling and simulation management", which I guess
sets policy for such activities and the goals of the Defense Modeling and
Simulation Office.  Does anyone know if DoD 5000.59 mentions Ada (and if not
why not  - after all, Mosemann's Air Force AI memo didn't mentioned Ada),
and does anyone know if anyone from AJPO has contacted DMSO (and if not,
resign)?


Greg Aharonian