What is Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)?
What exactly is MOSA? Modular Open Systems Approach is defined as a technical and business strategy for designing modularized, adaptable systems. For those of us in the DoD community, this was codified into law in 2019 via Title 10 U.S.C. 4401(b) – stating that all major defense acquisition programs are required to be designed and developed (to the extent practicable) utilizing MOSA.
In layman’s speak, it represents DoD taking a stance that it desires a standardized, transparent approach to building major systems – from aircraft to ground vehicles to training systems and beyond. It can be applied to hardware (widgets, components, parts, etc.) or software (systems, platforms, applications, etc.). This approach affords DoD more supply chain visibility, builds the Defense Industrial Base, fosters more competitive solutions at both the program and component level and opens the door to further collaboration between industry and government.
MOSA also serves as the response to the rapidly increasing pace at which technology evolves and changes. In complex environments, an agile, modular approach to implementing subsystems achieves speed when it is needed most. The cessation of an advanced weapons system or avionics platform that costs billions of dollars to design, build and maintain is a scenario to be avoided at all costs. Rapid solutioning becomes a reality with MOSA, enabling shorter lead times with life cycle replacements.
In addition, for the DoD, the ability to gain full transparency into suppliers and solutions has become a national security issue. Modularity in design allows for more incremental additions, substitutions or replacements over the life cycle of the system/platform while benefiting from enhanced innovation and competition in these product offerings. While vendors of various parts and components have long been a part of OEM supply chains, MOSA introduces a new level of interoperability and fungibility for any one piece that makes up these critical subsystem technologies. MOSA also combats obsolescence issues and supply chain shortages.
From a standardization and scalability perspective, one can draw logical rationale for MOSA. But where does that leave us with technical data rights for both government and industry? How do major OEMs protect the intellectual property related to the aircraft they built because of their investment of billions of R&D dollars? How do small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors build subsystems to MOSA requirements and maintain a competitive offering amid increased levels of transparency and data sharing? While the case for government to embrace MOSA is evident, industry’s adaptation of this paradigm will be driven by a combination of market forces, mission requirements and shareholder priorities.
And then, there’s price. At what price can MOSA be achieved across DoD? If speed, transparency and national security are key deciding factors in this acquisition process, then how do long-term life cycle costs come into consideration? If MOSA requires primes and OEMs to relinquish a certain level of data rights and control, do they simply pass through their IR&D and architecture-related investment to the government? MOSA entails a different financial model, one that industry (both OEMs and their vendors) are still adapting to and learning.
The Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) continues to promote the development of MOSA enabling standards as they “are essential to the ability to rapidly share information across domains, with quick and affordable updates or improvements to both hardware and software components.” A framework and guidance for program management related to MOSA is provided by the Defense Standardization Program (DSP), with the primary emphasis – at present – focused on identification and distribution of MOSA enabling standards.
Over the coming months, we’ll dive more into MOSA and its impact within government and industry, including case studies, business model adaptations, intellectual property implications and more. The desired end goals of increased interoperability, speed, and incremental transparency are ones in which the Defense Industrial Base will need to embrace in order to successfully sustain their support of the mission.
