By RJ Mclaren
The Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) isn’t just a directive; it’s a strategic imperative reshaping how the Department of Defense (DOD) acquires and sustains mission-critical technology. Designed to lower costs, streamline upgrades, and improve interoperability, MOSA ensures those on the front lines have access to agile, adaptable systems that evolve as fast as the mission demands. For those of us in the trenches of rugged embedded computing, it’s not a new paradigm—it’s the validation of principles we’ve championed for decades: sustainable innovation built on open standards.
At Kontron, the principles behind MOSA are not a response to regulation; they are built into our foundation. With more than 30 years of leadership in standards bodies like VITA and PICMG, we have helped define the very frameworks that MOSA now mandates. When the DOD calls for open, modular, and scalable solutions, we do not scramble to meet the requirement. We deliver proven, field-tested technology backed by a legacy of engineering excellence. This is not just about compliance. It is about helping our customers move faster, integrate smarter, and deploy with confidence.
More Than Products: Embracing All Five Pillars of MOSA
The MOSA strategy goes beyond modular hardware. It’s a holistic approach that requires a commitment to all five pillars defined by the DOD. Here’s how we align with and help our customers execute them:
Employ a Modular Design: This is our foundation, from SOSA-aligned 3U/6U VPX cards, backplanes and power supplies to our Computer-on-Module-based mission computers and to our ruggedized edge servers.
Leverage Consensus-Based Open Standards: Our active, long-term participation in VITA, PICMG, SOSA, ARINC and other industry standards is a testament to our belief in community-developed standards as the bedrock of interoperability.
Designate and Manage Modular Interfaces: We build to standards that define these critical interfaces. We provide comprehensive documentation and support to ensure our customers and partners can meet their program requirements and fully integrate their solutions with confidence, ensuring backward compatibility and seamless integration.
Establish an Enabling Environment: We see our role as more than a supplier; we are a partner in our customers' success. We help de-risk programs by providing pre-validated, standards-based platforms that simplify the acquisition and sustainment lifecycle, directly contributing to a healthy MOSA ecosystem.
Certify Conformance: The ultimate proof of interoperability is formal certification. We design our VPX products to be "SOSA-aligned," making them ready for the formal verification and validation process. Our pre-validated and open system mission platforms and servers adhere to widely adopted industry standards, and we work with our customer's program office to ensure alignment. We participate within the overall ecosystem to ensure our solutions meet evolving standards as the industry certification process continues to mature.
Matching the Architecture to the Mission
A successful MOSA implementation isn't about forcing a single standard into every application. It's about having a deep toolkit of open, modular architectures and applying the right one to the specific mission challenge.
For High-Performance C5ISR: The SOSA™/ OpenVPX Ecosystem
When a program demands the highest levels of multi-vendor interoperability for complex sensor processing, like in EW or radar applications, the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard is the benchmark. This is our home turf. We provide the critical building blocks—SOSA-aligned SBCs, network switches, backplanes, and power supplies—that allow prime integrators to build sophisticated, multi-vendor systems with confidence. Customers can leverage our pre-validated chassis platforms to accelerate their time-to-market or use our individual Line Replaceable Modules (LRMs) in their own integrated systems.
For Rugged Mission Computing: A Nuanced Approach with Computer-on-Module Systems
Not every application needs a multi-slot backplane. For vehicle electronics (vetronics), mission management computers, and display processors, Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) are paramount. Here, we apply MOSA principles through the standards-based Computer-on-Module (COM) + carrier board architecture.
By leveraging the widely supported PICMG open standard COM Express, we decouple the processor and memory (the module) from the application-specific I/O (the carrier). This is a game-changer for lifecycle management. A prime contractor who has qualified our rugged mission computer like the COBALT can, three years later, have us upgrade to the latest processor technology by swapping the module. COM Express is a robust commercial standard, and works well for self-contained, SWaP-optimized systems where the primary goal is rapid technology refresh within a pre-qualified envelope, the COM architecture is a powerful and pragmatic MOSA strategy. By integrating standard expansion interfaces like M.2, mPCIe, and MXM onto the platform via the standard rugged carrier board, we can easily integrate third-party cards for specialized functions like MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, or advanced acceleration and co-processing.
For the Tactical Edge: MOSA-Aligned Servers & Wearable Nodes
Extending MOSA to the edge requires different thinking. Our rugged rackmount servers like the CG2500 and ME1310 achieve MOSA alignment through a disciplined use of non-proprietary data center standards. Using rugged datacenter grade x86 motherboards, PCIe expansion slots, industry standard storage options, and OpenBMC/Redfish for management, these servers are open at every layer. For the individual soldier or micro-UAV, platforms like our µDARC deliver MOSA compliance by serving as standardized, interoperable nodes in a larger network, relying on open software environments and network interfaces.
Your Partner in Open Systems: Navigating the Technical and Business Challenges
The MOSA mandate is clear: build systems that are adaptable, competitive, and sustainable. But its implementation can change traditional business models, sometimes introducing perceived risks or higher upfront costs. We help customers overcome these challenges by demonstrating how a standards-based COTS approach de-risks initial investments and drastically lowers the total cost of ownership—the ultimate goal of the mandate.
From SOSA-aligned VPX plug-in-cards, backplanes and power supplies that form the heart of advanced C5ISR systems to COM-based mission computers enabling affordable tech refresh in ground vehicles, Kontron provides the comprehensive, standards-based toolkit to make MOSA a reality. We will continue to be at the forefront, contributing to the evolution of new standards and helping our customers navigate the landscape. We’ve been doing this for 30 years. It’s who we are.
The MOSA and FACE Technical Interchange Meeting is just around the corner. Let's discuss how Kontron’s standards-based approach can de-risk your program and accelerate your timeline.
Stop by and let's discuss: what's your biggest challenge with MOSA integration?
Meet Kontron at MOSA Summit & Expo 2025
One Step Ahead in Modular Defense
August 27–29 | National Harbor, MD | Booth #339
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https://www.kontron.com/MOSA-2025