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On July 10, the U.S. Army posted a request for information (RFI) for C5ISR / EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) Reference Architecture (RA), CMFF Digital Engineering (DE) Model.
This CMFF RFI update is a continuing effort by PM MC to build on prior CMFF market research, keep industry informed of design decisions being made, and to collaborate on issues seen across the CMFF strategy. This RFI also introduces a new product, a CMFF Digital Engineering model, for industry review and comments. Updated documents are being provided as part of this RFI to request additional feedback from industry.
The Army has defined a suite of open architecture industry and Army standards to enable the reduction of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR)/Electronic Warfare (EW) system size, weight and power – cooling (SWaP-C) and ensure commonality across multiple platforms by enabling the sharing of hardware and software components among multiple C5ISR and Integrated Electronic Warfare System (IEW&S) missions (i.e. multi-mission/multi-function). In January 2021 the Army approved an Abbreviated – Capability Development Document (A-CDD) for C5ISR/Electronic Warfare (C5ISR/EW) Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) to establish an initial set of Army requirements desired to develop and employ these standards in prototypes for operational assessment.
The CMFF A-CDD establishes requirements for a prototype that minimizes the need for platform specific integration, and enables the fielding of evolutionary capabilities without the need for additional cabling or mounts, or upgrades to the CMFF chassis. This CMFF capability is governed by the CMFF Reference Architecture which is guided and derived from technical requirements found in the CMOSS Interoperability Requirements Specification (IRS), specifically including the Sensor Open System Architecture (SOSATM), Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE), Vehicular Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY), and the Modular Open RF Architecture (MORA). CMFF also includes requirements from the Standardized A-Kit Vehicle Envelope (SAVE) and the Mounted Mission Command (MMC) Environmental Specifications documents. These standards will enable CMFF to drastically improve the reliability, reusability, interoperability, and interchangeability of CMFF system components to include the chassis, payload cards, radio conditioning devices, radioheads, and key software modules.
Army Capability Manager Tactical Radios (ACM TR) has coordinated directly with representatives from Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications – Tactical (PEO C3T), PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S), and PEO Aviation for the development of Annexes to the A-CDD. These annexes included with the A-CDD provide initial performance parameters for development of CMFF payload card capabilities and supporting peripheral devices to enable tactical radio communications, electronic warfare (EW), positioning navigation and timing (PNT), mission command, data storage, local computing and switching infrastructure, and sensor capabilities for all mounted platforms, to include Aviation. CMFF systems and their payload cards will need to be simple and intuitive to install, operate, and maintain by Soldiers, and be resilient, reliable, and available to operate in all operational air and ground environments and against any enemy.
CMFF will move the implementation of C5ISR/EW capabilities away from costly and complex “stovepiped” federated legacy systems or line replaceable units (LRUs) on individual platforms. The layered standards within CMFF will make it simpler and more cost-effective to introduce new capabilities and keep pace with commercial technology by reducing complex integration challenges, eliminating proprietary interfaces, and enabling greater competition and reuse.
Source: SAM
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