Driving a more agile and connected battlespace
A modular open systems approach (MOSA) is a priority of Future Vertical Lift (FVL) because of its criticality to building a truly best-in-class FVL ecosystem, while offering backwards compatibility and efficient advancement for the current fleet.
Not only does an open-systems architecture allow for greater mission flexibility, it also enables easier and faster advancements over time as new capabilities are integrated into the program. When systems are built with common languages, it also enables efficiency and cost reduction for upgrades, add-ons and training.
Open systems in action
Avionics
Collins Aerospace has been a pioneer in avionics open systems architecture for more than 30 years. Our avionics technology has been part of the Army’s Special Operations fleet since 2001 and in other pathfinder programs leading the way for open-systems architected avionics upgrades on over 20 different aircraft types. Our avionics solution for FVL builds on that legacy while focusing on a separation between the air vehicle and mission system in order to enable rapid third-party integration into the field for today’s and tomorrow’s warfighter.
Air Launched Effects
Our Air Launched Effects (ALE) mission system – selected for Army Aviation’s current and FVL fleet – is designed in a modular open systems approach allowing for integration of third-party capabilities to avoid vendor lock and gives the government the option to add capabilities if needed.
Vehicle Management Computing
Our Perigon® Vehicle Management Computer (VMC) is built with open-source software that offers flexibility to add a wide variety of applications – including fully autonomous flight capabilities. The VMC’s capabilities will also support the Army’s Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) requirement so that its helicopter pilots can devote more focus to their missions and less to the environments they’re flying in.
Communications
As the first company to field both ground and airborne software defined radios, Collins has been a leader in revolutionizing communications solutions. FlexLink™, our latest open and modular communication, navigation and surveillance solution, allows you to keep pace with evolving COM & PNT threats and technologies while providing rapid technology insertion, increased mission flexibility and reduced lifecycle costs. This “system of systems” approach offers new capabilities while maintaining connectivity to legacy systems on air and ground platforms with the added flexibility of being able to reprogram in the field.
"Open-systems solutions paired with ultramodern cybersecurity and mission systems integration provide the solid foundation future military rotorcraft needs to help power the connected, multi-domain battlespace and consistently stay ahead of its most powerful adversaries with efficiency, agility, resilience and lethality."