Operational Capability Advancement Through Open Architecture Application - Flipbook - Page 10
6: Consolidation of Resources
Figure 6: LHD 6 USS Bonhomme Richard with a USMC Air Combat Element embarked
A major challenge – one that is certainly not new – is how to evolve and enhance the capability of a 昀椀nite constraint such as real
estate, whether that is a ship, submarine, aircraft, or any other 昀椀xed-size platform. We expect these platforms to be operationally
effective for many decades and need a way to ensure they remain relevant against emerging requirements of the operational
environment.
The application of OA introduces commonality and 昀氀exibility to the platform, bringing bene昀椀ts that include:
•
Common information systems that provide easier integration of data.
•
Flexibility over where functions related to data fusion are hosted.
•
UAX operator stations in an ops-room being able to support multiple vehicle types through con昀椀guration.
•
A common engineering support back-end that can support multiple systems.
•
Commonality and con昀椀gurability in sensor systems to help with spectrum decon昀氀iction.
As indicated above, the bene昀椀ts that OA brings to a military platform are many and varied, and they are essentially a result of
being able to standardize, consolidate, re-con昀椀gure, and re-scale the technical products that are being hosted.
Along with the ability to improve the technology that is being hosted, the application of OA can help realize a reduction in training and manpower overhead, the latter of which could further free up resources related to maintaining a large crew, such as real
estate, power consumption, etc.
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