Logistics Advancement Through Open Architecture Application - Flipbook - Page 4
WHAT IS OPEN ARCHITECTURE (OA)?
The military environment is one of 昀氀uid challenges and operational objectives that must be met in the most ef昀椀cient manner so our
war昀椀ghters can operate with the highest ratio of overmatch and the lowest ratio of risk that is possible with available technology.
To achieve this, we need to build our systems in a more consistent way, utilizing a strategy that enables greater 昀氀exibility in our
functional architectures, commercial rights, engineering processes, and have common approaches to considerations such as
authority management, safety assurance and security accreditation to enable our mission system products to be adaptable and
reusable across programs.
Open Architecture is the application of standard practices and technical approaches that are readily available (Open) to the community of interest (Enterprise).
The standards provide stakeholders in the enterprise a consistent set of tools to generate requirements, specify and develop,
integrate, test, and deploy architecture products for our systems from inception to sundown.
While proprietary approaches can provide for a dedicated solution set to achieve a platform’s desired mission capability, Open
Architecture allows for the solution set to be used across multiple platforms. Furthermore, Open Architecture brings sustainment
to near end of life platforms that can leverage obsolescence redesigns from new platforms with development and production
budgets. This means that previously un-viable life extensions are now viable.
How Can OA Be Applied To Logistics?
OA work and justi昀椀cation has historically been focused on the programmatic bene昀椀ts of breaking vendor-lock, also known as
un-competitive technical advantage. Whilst delivering these programmatic bene昀椀ts is important, and indeed is essential in the examples presented here, the ultimate goal is to provide enhanced capability to our War昀椀ghters on the front line. This paper focuses
on logistics, a critical element of maintaining that operational capability. The application of open, modular, con昀椀gurable systems
coupled with an overarching OA Enterprise approach enables the logistics capability to be designed and integrated consistently
and ef昀椀ciently; it allows for common solutions to be applied where applicable which in turn drives ef昀椀ciency in maintenance and
support. Furthermore, legacy platforms that are extended beyond their original sunset date can take advantage of open modular
design to manage obsolescence and provide advancements to maintain operational relevance. OA also provides the framework
for smarter autonomy to be applied to the last mile of delivery, through contested environments, to supply the war昀椀ghter on the
front line.
The following examples are not exhaustive, but show areas of the logistics chain where OA can be applied to enhance support
to the War昀椀ghter.
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