8.2.2 Systems and Supportability Engineering and Integration: Best Practices for COTS‐Intensive Development

Abstract

AbstractThe emphasis on utilizing commercial products/technologies to develop modern complex systems and to upgrade legacy systems has yielded relatively immediate returns in terms of reduced acquisition time and cost. In this context, examples of complex systems include weapon systems, telecommunication systems, train control systems. Such systems are generally characterized as being information and knowledge intensive, distributed, multifunctional, and software intensive.Prudent introduction and application of commercial technologies and products in the design and development of C4ISR systems has reversed the traditional pattern of increasing system acquisition costs. This is reflected in Figure 1 for four functionally equivalent systems. The same reversal of trends has also been realized during the system production phase. These, relatively short term benefits (in terms of reduced development and production cost) notwithstanding, unique challenges exist relative to the on‐going evolution in available technologies, relevant missions and threat scenarios, and customer requirements and expectations. This results in the need for multiple technology refreshment and technology insertion strokes over the operational life span of these systems. COTS‐intensive C4ISR system performance, cost, and schedule risk must be viewed and analyzed from this long‐term perspective if a reduction in the total cost of system ownership is to be realized. This technical paper outlines the tailoring of the systems engineering and integration methodology to enhance its relevance to a COTS‐based acquisition paradigm through focusing on selected systems engineering sub‐processes and practices, such as open systems architecture formulation, assessment and evaluation; COTS assessment/selection; and COTS supportability engineering.