DoD MOSA is an
integrated business and technical strategy to achieve competitive and
affordable acquisition and sustainment of a new or legacy system or component
over the system life cycle. This approach allows the Department to acquire
warfighting capabilities, including systems, subsystems, software components,
and services, with more flexibility and competition.
Title 10 USC 2446a – 2446c established the mandate for Modular
Open Systems Approach to be implemented to the maximum extent possible. The
Combat Capabilities Development Center (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (AC) is
executing this mandate through the development of the Assured Armaments Reference
Architecture (AARA) to govern internal and external interfaces for integrated
Armaments Systems. Knowledge of external system integration is critical to the
future development of Armament Systems – ensuring lethal capabilities perform
as expected on a platform reliably and safely while being sustainable. AARA
will serve as the foundation for scoping a developmental effort at the
Armaments Center. The architecture provides the framework for each specific
type of armament system. The architecture is built to be malleable and
tailorable to meet the needs of each specific program as they bolt on additions
that are program specific, yet retain the philosophy, approach, and intent
behind what it means to be AARA compliant.