Computing Technology using Mainstream COTS for Naval Combat System

Resumen

Since the end of World War II, the world power has been acquiring expensive, closed warfighting systems that have trouble interoperating. These systems were designed to combat a known threat from a competing superpower.

Threats in the new global environment are the smaller, distributed enemies. So, the Navy needs to cost-effectively acquire new warfighting capabilities to meet emerging threats, and enhance competition to reduce cost and enable more effective technology insertion.

Therefore, a combat system is faced with building future computing environments. It is a model where all the components including server, network, and operating system, middleware are Mainstream COTS(commercial off-the- shelf). It refers to a COTS product which is aligned with mainstream technology of predominant product available in the commercial market. This approach provides is the foundation for rapid technology insertion of new technologies and the enabler of competition for system and sub-system upgrades.

This paper provides examples of realizing mainstream COTS-based computing technology for combat systems, and discusses advantage and opportunity they provide to navy.