UTILIZING A MODEL-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING APPROACH TO DEVELOP A COMBAT SYSTEM PRODUCT LINE

Abstract

Current U.S. Navy combat system suites are ship class dependent. There are a variety of configurations that include sensors, weapons, and system interfaces to accomplish similar goals. The Navy Surface Warfare Center recommends developing combat system architectures utilizing reusable product line components. This recommendation is accomplished by applying model-based systems engineering and product line engineering to develop a combat system architecture with planned reuse of system components. Current U.S. Navy and European combat systems are reviewed as an introduction to the architecture and components of operational systems. Conducting functional decomposition and identifying commonalities of the reviewed combat systems allow for development of a system architecture following the Hatley-Pirbhai modeling framework. The system architecture helps identify system variability, which, in turn, is used to generate orthogonal variability models that are used to design the combat system product line. A product line orthogonal variability model features packaged variants for three proposed combat system tiers representing scalable capabilities. The benefits of a product line engineering approach are validated by a system-level Constructive Product Line Investment Model. This research provides a methodology and cost modeling tool for future combat system design as well as background for further research in combat system product line engineering.