Questions for the Army's Open Architecture Approach.

• Author: Breen, Matthew
• Position: Viewpoint

* The momentum surrounding CMOSS technology adoption continues to build.

CMOSS, which stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C5ISR)/Electronic Warfare Modular Open Suite of Standards, is one component of the Army's effort to modernize its communication and network architecture and increase its ability to introduce new technical capabilities to the force quickly.

By embedding networked capabilities such as radio and communication waveforms, mission planning and command applications, assured positioning, navigation and timing information, and electronic warfare tools onto cards that are inserted into a common chassis within a tactical or combat vehicle, the Army is moving closer towards a scenario where plug-and-play mission equipment exists.

The excitement surrounding CMOSS is understandable. When appropriately matured, open architecture technology has the potential to support a step-change in Army warfighting capability. As conceptually envisioned, CMOSS equipment should more easily enable multi-mission equipment sets, shorten technology development cycles, allow for continuous introduction of new capability, and significantly reduce sustainment costs and equipment downtime.

Reports from the Army's Network Modernization Experimentation event, also known as NetModX, suggest that small-scale, controlled experiments to test card prototypes showed promising results. The Army is capitalizing on the success of initial card tests and moving rapidly to field a common chassis prototype.

While momentum and early success is good, the Army must be careful not to let the euphoria of the technology's potential and confidence from successful demonstrations overshadow the very real challenges that still must be addressed. For the idea to succeed, the Army will need to collaborate closely with industry to incrementally move the technology forward. More-over, for industry to continue to invest in CMOSS and CMOSS chassis development the way the Army requires, greater clarity is needed on the end-state and organizational dynamics of how such a chassis will be managed now and in the future.

Specifically, there are several critical organizational, technological and industrial base questions that must be addressed before a full CMOSS capability set can be fielded as part of the Army's Network Capability Set 25. Without greater clarity on how these efforts will be funded, what stakeholder or group...