A Robust Data Architecture for Rapid Combat System Integration, Testing, and Certification

The Navy has a need to develop a Domain Specific Model (DSM) for the NavyÆs Integrated Combat System (ICS). Current Navy combat systems have unique interfaces to 40+ sensors, weapons, and communications devices. Each interface requires unique code for processing data and generating controls in accordance with unique interface documentation. Adding a new device requires new code in the magnitude of 10-50K delivered lines of code depending on the complexity of the interface at a historical cost of $500 per line of code for software development. If the Navy moves to common components that use adaptation with less than 500 lines of code, significant cost avoidance can be realized together with rapid integration of new warfighting capabilities. The development of a DSM enables development of common components based upon the DSM, reducing the cost, complexity, and timeline for integration. The interface to/from unique devices can be mediated through lightweight adaptation through boundary components. To address this need, the contractor shall leverage prior work performed on a Phase I Air Force SBIR (AF193-025), F-35 Lightning II Data Tools. The Phase I effort focused on the design and development of a tool (Dexter) that enabled engineers and analysts to visually develop data transformations. The transformations, when automated within a Development Security Operations (DevSecOps) pipeline, would convert and aggregate various source data into the Mission Data File (MDF) format required for F-35 mission operations. In this manner the contractor shall apply the same principles and components designed in the Phase I effort, with modifications, to support data transformations to and from the DSM.