34 European Security & Defence 2015
Defence Technology
Bundeswehr-implemented tool for test management in NATO exercises (BSC/Omninet) Ongoing NATO operations have shown the
NATO certification. Special attention is paid to the planning
need to increase interoperability between nations. The highest
and documentation steps. Clear performance targets are set
form to test interoperability is the NATO Response Force
as evaluation criteria for the results. If they are not achieved
Certification Process. IT systems are interoperability-tested
during the process flow the test responsible must document
against each other based on agreed NATO
the defect and decides
standards. Test criteria are defined, test
to repeat the test. If no
execution planned and the results are clearly
positive result is achie-
documented. BAAINBw (Federal Office of
ved the nations involved
Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Techno-
must adapt their systems
logy and In-Service Support) contributes with
to obtain a certification.
an OMNITRACKER-based Test Management
Thus, a gradual and
Tool for IT interoperability exercises.
multiple testing provides
Germany has successfully supported the
the test director with a
SFCT IT interop exercises for more than 10
better idea of existing
years. The “Data Base IT System Bundes-
problems, where they
wehr” project (IT-SysBw) included a perfor-
occurred and how a
mant IT solution for SFCT content preparation,
precise error analysis
evaluation and documentation which has
can later be performed
been deployed since May 2013. The applica-
by the national organiza-
tion was created using the process manage-
tions. Required changes
ment software OMNITRACKER, produced by
to faulty IT systems can
the German company OMNINET. OMNITRA-
then be submitted to the
CKER is based on international standards and
respective project. By
has been certified according to numerous
entering all data into a
standards, e.g. ITILv3 2011 Edition. Several
central database, a vari-
business-oriented applications are available
ety of views and analysis
which can be adapted by simple means of
is possible e.g. Error
configuration. As for the NATO CIS Interop
Test − Management − Workflow
Statistics or Requirements
Exercise Support, a completely new process-
Coverage Analysis.
Graphic: BS/Omninet
driven OMNITRACKER application was de-
Reusability of structured
veloped within few months. In the early stage
information is important
of test scenario planning it supports a role-based preparation
for recurring exercises such as CWIX, CE and SFCT. Hence,
with Roles involved (HQs, units) and CIS systems (Resour-
a test case pool grows up over time which can be used by
ces). Captured in the database via Web Browser input masks
the participating organizations. INTEROP-ExPERT is suitable
these elements are enhanced by NATO CIS and defined
for all similar exercises, e.g. testing of national IT systems in
requirements for their interworking, e.g., information exchange
disaster relief scenarios. The theoretical foundation for this
relationships between the roles involved. The test cases are
approach is available and the exercise-proven application
created and divided into several test steps, providing execu-
can easily be adapted. If IT systems shall be structured in a
tion parameters, evaluation criteria and objectives. The appli-
service-oriented way, an assignment of NATO‘s C3 Taxonomy
cation includes a test generator for automatic test generation
(C3T) is required (already implemented in IT-SysBw).
in less than a minute which allows for test repetitions during
BAAINBw also uses OMNITRACKER for Architecture
the exercise period, if needed. The event calendar of the
Management, Collaboration and Service Processes. Open in-
exercise period is subdivided in time slots for individual test
terfaces and code-free configuration support a rapid process
executions. The test management application, now branded
deployment. OMNINET‘s contractually guaranteed Release
INTEROP-ExPERT, supports a process flow – a must for each
Compatibility assures a low TCO.
