Warfare is ever-changing, and today we see the most technologically dynamic battlefield in history. Our rigid acquisition system and legacy technical architectures unfortunately put us at a disadvantage in meeting this threat. One action that would have an outsized impact on aligning this divergence is for the Department of Defense (DoD) to further embrace Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) as a critical warfighting capability for the 21st century.
MOSA is a mission system architecture that employs widely practiced, consensus-based standards such as the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE). By implementing and promoting MOSA within our combat systems portfolios, we can rapidly transition critical battlefield capabilities and enhance the industrial production potential of the Defense Industrial Base.
The conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have demonstrated a technologically advanced battlefield where weapon systems deployed by our allies have experienced remarkable success. However, some have been swiftly neutralized by adversaries introducing new technology, particularly in counter navigation and electronic warfare. This indicates the necessity for flexible warfighting platforms that can adapt to new capabilities quickly in order to remain effective in future conflicts.
To address this challenge, embracing MOSA is essential as a best practice for the DoD. It is imperative to develop architectures that can adapt to new functions and capabilities. While open standards and sharing capabilities in warfighting systems are not new, the complexity of modern platforms has diminished this flexibility. During World War II, systems evolved rapidly, allowing the introduction of critical capabilities like radar, sonar, chaff, and flares without extensive pre-development.
Efforts are underway to combine cross-service architectures within our weapon systems, enabling the sharing of advanced capabilities to save time and costs through joint development. For instance, the Navy’s Hypersonic Weapons program aligns with Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA), while collaborating with the Army and Air Force on next-generation air dominance capabilities. By aligning joint architectures, services can transition countermeasures and next-generation offensive functions across multiple platforms at the speed of relevance. This rapid innovation is crucial for addressing vulnerabilities anticipated on the 21st-century battlefield.
Another significant challenge we face is the production capacity of our industrial base, particularly in munitions. The U.S. economy has shifted from a World War II manufacturing powerhouse to a predominantly service-based economy. To expand industrial base capacity, we can distribute production using MOSA. Even complex weapon systems consist of numerous components that do not require exclusive development by large prime contractors. By involving small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors, multiple providers can produce various system modules, increasing production capacity suited for potential rapid scaling of munition production.
We are at a pivotal moment to witness the 21st-century battlefield and learn valuable lessons to prepare for combat while hopefully avoiding it. These lessons emphasize the need for the ability to rapidly adopt new capabilities and scale munitions production.
MOSA serves as a solution to these critical warfare elements, enabling swift sharing of capabilities, reducing redundant development efforts, and distributing our industrial base. We must promote the alignment and standardization of architectures, as seen in hypersonics and next-generation aircraft. Furthermore, it is vital to deploy these architectures in our R&D programs and test platforms to facilitate the rapid transition of advanced capabilities from early development to Program of Record (PoR) status without substantial redesign or reconfiguration.
We have successfully adapted in the past when duty called, and we are progressing in this regard. It is essential to apply the insights gained from ongoing conflicts worldwide and recognize MOSA as a critical combat capability for the 21st century.
*Guertin is the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition; Glassman is a senior adviser for the office.*
