Operational Capability Advancement Through Open Architecture Application - Flipbook - Page 8
4: Flexible Mission-Fit/Loadout
Figure 4: AGM-114 Hell昀椀re missiles on an AH-64 Apache Attach Helicopter
Due to the cost of the advanced technology required to be effective against today’s military challenges, an increasing number
of systems are being developed as multi-role assets. Not only does this enable ef昀椀ciency in the program cost and schedule, but
also delivers 昀氀exibility to the war昀椀ghter in an era where there are different mission types, adversary types, and geographical and
meteorological conditions.
OA enables systems to be developed with common data backbone technology, standard chassis hardpoints, standard computing hardware, and standard software speci昀椀cations. All of this supports a system with 昀氀exible connectivity and load-out con昀椀guration, along with the requisite changes in data and software algorithms.
Not only can these systems be changed with regard to the mission-昀椀t of extant technologies, but they are also set up for the
easier introduction of new or upgraded technology.
Delivering a 昀氀exible solution that is properly con昀椀gured to the operational requirements ensures that the war昀椀ghter is provided
with the best advantage. Whether the advantage is increased 昀椀repower, more effective sensing, or lower risk operation in a
degraded visual environment, the competitive edge is fundamentally made possible through the application of OA.
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