Modular Open Systems Pave the Way for U.S. Army's Future in Flight

Modular Open Systems Pave the Way for U.S. Army's Future in Flight
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 13, 2024

A reconnaissance drone flew deep into enemy territory, identifying surface-to-air missile systems and relaying their coordinates to a remote command center. Artillery units then prepared to engage the targets, while special forces arrived by helicopter, established a forward-operating base, and helicopters evacuated the wounded. All throughout, the mission relied on the seamless integration of various sensing, targeting, and communication systems.

This level of integration, imagined by Collins Aerospace in a fictional scenario, is enabled by the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). During a May 2024 demonstration at the Collins Customer Experience Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the company showcased how MOSA allows for the rapid interchangeability of components and compatibility between systems.

"You get goosebumps," said Joseph Graf, a senior tech fellow at Collins, who helped lead the demonstration. "Events like this are where we show we can provide superior technology to the warfighter."

The joint task force simulation highlighted the Army's current and future helicopter fleet, illustrating Collins' capability to integrate avionics, sensors, mission computers, and fire-control systems.

Understanding MOSA
The U.S. Army is focusing on the MOSA strategy to develop technology that offers several critical advantages:

- Cost: Common software reduces both operational and sustainment expenses.

- Compatibility: The open systems architecture accelerates the deployment of new capabilities.

- Modernization: MOSA streamlines fleet upgrades, making them quicker and more frequent.

- Sustainment: The approach supports more efficient upgrades, add-ons, and training efforts.

By embracing MOSA, the Army and the Department of Defense aim to avoid "vendor lock," ensuring that systems can be developed and upgraded without depending on a single manufacturer. "They need open system components," Graf said. "There's no room for a system that is completely proprietary."

MOSA will also play a key role in the Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) initiative, which is focused on modernizing and maintaining a technological advantage with next-generation rotorcraft, tiltrotors, and other vertical lift platforms.

Graf, who serves as the chief engineer for the FVL program at Collins, emphasized that gradually introducing MOSA into the Army's current fleet is a top priority, ensuring affordability and adaptability. The approach covers all aspects of a weapons system, from avionics to landing gear, offering a holistic framework for integrating new technologies.

"It's not a standard, it's a framework to acquire new capabilities," Graf said. "With the fast change of technology, they need a better way to keep up with the pace."

While MOSA is not a new concept, the Army's push for fleet readiness in response to evolving threats is accelerating its adoption. To support this, Collins has established the Customer Experience Center as a MOSA "center of excellence," where industry experts and partners regularly demonstrate the potential of MOSA to Army officials.

"We are all in when it comes to MOSA," Graf said, "and we are leveraging the breadth and depth of RTX to bring the best capabilities to our warfighters."