Military requirements constrain COTS utilization

摘要

In the past, our military systems have required technology notnreadily available in the industrial and commercial areas. This is nonlonger the case. Commercial products and practices offer the potentialnof reduced costs, lower risk and faster technology infusion. In order tonachieve the potential benefits, our current methods of acquisition neednchange but it is important to review the background behind theninstitution of military standards and to assess their continued validitynand to understand why. Also, before we rush to the conclusion thatnmilitary specifications and standards are preferred for avionics overncommercial products and practices, it is useful to review the specificnrequirements. In the past, in the absence of military specifications andnstandards, situations arose where items were developed using existingnindustrial and commercial products, processes and practices that atntimes led to catastrophic results or were inadequate to meet the threat.nIt is comforting that those who demand change show wisdom by asking thatnchange be conducted with care and the impact understood. However, somenuse hyperbole in condemning the reliance on military specifications andnstandards and insist that their elimination is a good thing. In thendomain of high performance aircraft avionics the potential for change isnlikely to be limited without an in-depth comprehension of the militarynenvironment, requirements and the capability of commercial products tonsatisfy them