Department of defense system of systems reliability challenges

Increased U.S. military preparedness and capabilities are achieved through a system of system approach which is forecasted to continue in the foreseeable future. Systems of systems differ from traditional systems in ways that require tailoring of systems engineering processes to successfully deliver their capabilities.[1] This paper describes the distinct characteristics of systems of systems that impact their reliability, discusses their unique challenges, and recommends strategies for managing them. DoD has shifted from a system perspective to a capability perspective where the value to users is the collective effect of a set of systems rather than any one system.[1-2] The SOS approach to meeting requirements remains a challenge when defense systems continue to demonstrate poor reliability during operationol testing (OT). Director Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) reported in 2015 to Congress that only “38 percent of systems that had an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) or Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) met their reliability requirements.” [5] This leads to questions about how to better define capabilities, impacts to design and how to integrate and test at the SoS level to achieve reliable systems. [1-5] This paper looks at SoS and reliability from the perspective of systems engineering and addresses the questions: What are the critical characteristics of SoS that affect T&E and reliability? What are the reliability implications for SoS? This paper reviews the characteristics of SoS as they impact reliability, and how aspects of reliability are addressed by the practice of SoS SE. Finally, it discusses the implications for Reliability of SoS, including specific challenges and the strategies currently employed to address them.