What is the Modular Open System Approach?
Since the adoption of 10 U.S.C. § 4401 in 2019, the Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) has become increasingly embedded in the defense acquisition process. In the past, systems were developed in isolation utilizing proprietary hardware and software that could not be easily replicated, making technology refreshes incredibly costly and inefficient. By moving to the MOSA standard, the defense industry achieves enhanced competition and innovation while yielding significant cost savings, reduced lead times, opportunities for technical upgrades, and increased interoperability.
While MOSA is a broad and all encompassing approach, there are more specific standards within the framework that provide guidance for different applications. These include:
- SOSA: The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture
- FACE: Future Airborne Capability Environment
- HOST: Hardware Open Systems Technologies
- CMOSS: C4ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards
- VICTORY: Vehicular Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability
- MORA: Modular Open Radio Frequency Architecture
- OMS/UCI: Open Mission Systems/Universal Command and Control Interface
How are General Digital’s Rugged Displays MOSA Compliant?
At General Digital, we have always adopted a modular approach, utilizing our core designs to easily swap out components and make other adjustments to ensure system operability for any application. Our dedication to configuration management and revision control ensures that as commercially available components go obsolete, system interoperability is maintained for the lifetime of the program.
While we build products to order, our products are always tailored to meet specific customer requirements, including connectors, power, mounting, and other components. Rather than relying on irreplaceable proprietary technology, we integrate standard commercial components such as:
- Standard video connectors (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, DVI, etc.)
- Standard power connectors
- Various mounting options including VESA mounting, standard 19″ RETMA racks, and threaded holes for standard screw sizes
All of our rugged displays and workstations can also optionally be equipped with the Dedicated Applications Platform™ (DAP). The DAP is a hardware agnostic platform that sits between the application software and internal processor, allowing hardware components to be interchanged without the software ever knowing. For legacy software systems such as DOS that are not compatible with contemporary hardware out of the box, this is a gamechanger.
General Digital is proud to support the MOSA framework and related standards, and aligned with the goals of rapid deployment, interchangeability, and cost-effective sustainment of hardware.
For more information or to request a quote, please Contact Us or email [email protected]