Breaking Down Silos: Why the DoD Is Embracing Open Systems Architectures

For decades, military technology has often been characterized by proprietary systems, vendor lock, and stove-piped development efforts. While this approach may have offered certain advantages in the past, the increasing complexity of modern warfare and the rapid pace of technological advancement are forcing a paradigm shift.

Enter the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) – a fundamental change in how the Department of Defense (DoD) designs, develops, and acquires its critical systems, platforms, and architectures. First introduced by the then Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in a 2019 “tri service memo,” the focus on open architectures achieved mainstream interest from the military and defense industrial base. The purpose and meaning of MOSA is straightforward: designing system architectures for interoperability, flexibility, and long-term adaptability instead of relying on proprietary solutions.

So, why the big push towards MOSA? It boils down to a multitude of compelling benefits that address the evolving challenges faced by today’s military:

Fostering Interoperability and Integration with MOSA

Imagine different branches of the military, or even allied forces, operating on disparate systems that can’t easily communicate or share data. This lack of interoperability can lead to critical delays, duplicated efforts, and compromised mission effectiveness.

MOSA tackles this head-on by establishing standardized interfaces, protocols, and data formats, ensuring seamless interoperability across systems, manufacturers, and operational domains. This allows different technologies to connect, share information, and function as a unified force. Think of it as moving from a collection of isolated islands to a well-connected continent.

The best example of industry coalescing around a standard is the VME Industry Trade Association, or VITA 46.0, also known as “VPX.” VITA 46.0 is a standard that defines the mechanical and electrical characteristics of high-performance, rugged, and modular open architecture embedded computing systems. It has become the backbone of open standards for embedded computing because, by reducing proprietary barriers, it allows for faster upgrades and broader industry collaboration — precisely why it aligns with the intent of MOSA.

Driving Down Costs and Enhancing Affordability

Proprietary systems often come with hefty price tags and limited options for upgrades or modifications. Vendor lock can lead to inflated maintenance costs and a lack of competitive pricing, impacting lifecycle costs of major weapon systems. MOSA promotes the use of modular, reusable components and open system architectures — creating a more competitive marketplace while allowing industry to rapidly solve hard problems. This allows the DoD to:

• Reduce development costs. By leveraging existing open standards and reusable modules, development cycles can be shortened and costs lowered.
• Increase competition. Open interfaces allow multiple vendors to compete for contracts, driving down prices and fostering innovation.
• Lower lifecycle costs. Standardized components and interfaces make maintenance, upgrades, and technology insertions more affordable and less disruptive.

Accelerating Innovation and Technology Insertion

The pace of technological change is relentless. Relying on closed, proprietary systems can hinder the DoD’s ability to rapidly adopt and integrate cutting-edge technologies and solve hard problems on behalf of the Warfighter. MOSA creates a more agile and adaptable environment by:

• Facilitating easier integration of new technologies. Open interfaces allow for the seamless integration of new hardware and software components from various sources.
• Encouraging innovation from a wider pool of vendors. By lowering the barriers to entry, MOSA encourages participation from smaller, more innovative companies.
• Enabling faster upgrades and modernization. Modular designs and open interfaces simplify the process of upgrading individual components without requiring a complete system overhaul.

Enhancing Flexibility and Adaptability

The nature of future conflicts is unpredictable. Military systems and platforms need to be flexible and adaptable to a wide range of missions and evolving threats. MOSA supports this by:

• Enabling rapid reconfiguration. Modular architectures allow for the quick reconfiguration of systems to meet specific mission requirements.
• Improving resilience. If one component fails, standardized interfaces make it easier to replace it with a compatible alternative.
• Supporting future growth and evolution. Open architectures are designed to be scalable and adaptable to future technological advancements and changing mission needs.

Strengthening Cybersecurity

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the security of defense systems must evolve just as rapidly. By adopting an open systems architecture, the DoD can build more resilient and adaptable cybersecurity frameworks, ensuring critical defense technologies remain secure and up to date. While not the sole solution, MOSA can contribute to enhanced cybersecurity by:

• Promoting transparency. Open standards and publicly available specifications can allow for greater scrutiny and identification of potential vulnerabilities.
• Enabling the integration of best-of-breed security solutions. Open interfaces allow for the incorporation of security components from specialized vendors.
• Reducing reliance on single-source vulnerabilities. Diversifying the vendor base can mitigate the risk associated with vulnerabilities in a single proprietary system.

The Path Forward with MOSA

Implementing MOSA across the vast and complex landscape of the DoD is not without its challenges. It requires a cultural shift, the development and adoption of robust industry standards, and a commitment to collaboration across different organizations and industry partners. However, the potential benefits – increased interoperability, reduced costs, accelerated innovation, enhanced flexibility, and stronger security – are too significant to ignore.

By breaking down the silos of proprietary systems and embracing the principles of openness, the DoD is paving the way for a more agile, affordable, and effective military force capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

The move towards a Modular Open Systems Approach is not just a technological shift; it’s a strategic imperative for maintaining a decisive advantage in an increasingly complex world.