The Army’s continuing focus on modernization has led to an emphasis on the Modular Open Systems Approach, or MOSA, which is defined by the Defense Standardization Program as “a technical and business strategy used to design affordable and adaptable systems.”

What is MOSA?

MOSA implies the use of a modular design including system interfaces designed according to accepted standards with which conformance can be verified. It can be employed in both defense and non-defense sectors by using a modular architecture and an open business model to add, modify, replace, and remove system components across the acquisition life cycle. This applies not only to physical components, but also software.

Source: https://ac.cto.mil/mosa/

MOSA’s Key Objectives

MOSA has five key objectives:

  1. Reducing production costs,
  2. Deploying new technologies in a timely manner,
  3. Upgrading and refreshing technology,
  4. Enabling interoperability across systems, and
  5. Providing benefits such as enhancing competition and incorporating innovation during the sustainment phase of a major system.

Why Is MOSA Important?

When different companies create new software in their own unique code languages, the products may not be able to communicate with each other once placed together on an aircraft. Because of the critical need for seamless communication, the goal of MOSA is to enable these products to speak the same language across all platforms.

Once the avionics software products speak a language that can be understood across the board, these products can be plugged into a master system that enables collaboration. The open approach creates a system and process that informs organizations how hardware and software should communicate as they are developing new features, which in turn makes the process faster, smoother, and more efficient.

Because MOSA enables seamless sharing across domains and machines, it yields “plug and play” technologies that create faster and more innovative program integration, which in turn benefits the Warfighter by creating a safer and more advanced environment.

Due to its advantages, the Army is committed to implementing MOSA as a core part of how it acquires and manages systems for use in Army Aviation. 

How JSS Can Help

MOSA is the future, and our experts at JSS work as integrators on this effort. We support all phases of the MOSA verification process by evaluating systems and devices to ensure that they will meet all of the necessary requirements, preparing acquisition planning documentation for related systems, and performing strategic communications with external agencies and departments.

The experts at JSS offer support for the assessment, analysis, integration, test planning and evaluation of FVL candidate sensors, signal processing, target acquisition, guidance, navigation, control, electronics, and computers. We assist with logistics engineering in maintenance planning to address all aspects of maintenance in systems designs and design changes. 

When a developer creates a component that needs to go on an aircraft, our experts work with the integration teams to help ensure that it can be integrated, that it meets the needs and requirements, and that it will be fielded through the proper channels.

The highly qualified subject matter experts at JS Solutions work together as a team to solve problems. JSS is a mission focused company driven by the success of its employees as well as every company and program they are associated with.