OMFV open architecture plans released

An open architecture model the Army is developing for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle could eventually be used for other ground vehicles, according to slides the Army posted Dec. 22.

"The output of this working group will be incorporated [into] the OMFV program, and proliferated across the Ground Combat and Tactical Vehicle portfolios," the slides state.

The slides were included with an initial posting for companies interested in joining the working group, which aims to create a modular, open and scalable architecture for the OMFV, the Army's replacement for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Developing the open architecture should eliminate the presence of redundant systems and non-standard connectors within vehicles, according to the slides. An open architecture could also make it easier for the Army to manage future logistics and supply chain costs, as more companies could bid for contracts.

Architecture development is set to being in January, according to a project calendar included in the slides. The process will last through the end of January 2022, when the request for proposals for the full design and prototype phases of the OMFV program will be released.

Each subsystem of the architecture, including robotics, C5ISR and vehicle electronics, will be designed in a sprint process, according to the slides. The government will create a draft in the first four weeks of each sprint, and industry will then have an opportunity to comment and work with the government on changes.

At this stage, the open architecture will be developed separately from the rest of the OMFV program. The Army released a request for proposals on Dec. 18 for Phase 2 of the program, the concept design phase.

Companies that bid for Phase 2 will be assessed on how well they provide for the implementation of the open and modular architecture, and the architecture's inclusion will be mandatory for Phases 3 and 4, the final design and prototyping phases, the Army announced at an industry day earlier this month.