Improving value of strategic defense systems using modular open architecture

Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) has been deliberately pursued in Department of Defense acquisitions of military systems for the last two decades due to its ability to save cost, improve performance, and prolong system lifespan. As defense systems grow increasingly complex and expensive, the risk of unforeseen threat environments becomes more significant and mitigation strategies more important. Considering this uncertainty, the capability to react to new environments quickly and inexpensively is paramount. Modular systems mitigate risks inherent in such uncertain environments by providing flexibility to users. However, a method to quantitatively assess the benefit modularity provides remains elusive. This thesis provides a methodology for analyzing the value of flexibility to users of defense systems with the purpose of revealing how and where open architectures are most beneficial. Using performance modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and sensitivity analysis the thesis illuminates the power of improving flexibility in complex systems by means of modularity. A specific case study -- the Multi Object Kill Vehicle Anti-Ballistic Missile System -- will be used to demonstrate the capability of the process to facilitate MOSA implementation in defense systems.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Wilson, C. Barry (Charles Barry)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brenan McCarragher and Richard de Neufville.

• Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.
• Engineering Systems Division.
• Technology and Policy Program.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111233

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/111233