AH-6: Creating an Agile Software Product Line Architecture

This paper describes evolution of the US Army/Boeing AH-64D Apache Block III open system software architecture to enable the AH-6 software product line (SWPL). The Networked Common Operating Real-time Environment (NCORE) software architecture was originally created during the Manned-Unmanned Common Architecture Program (MCAP) program. The architecture supports rapid development which has been utilized to support developing the AH-6 Helicopter program as a separate product line. The AH-6 Helicopter program began development under Boeing company funds for a flyable demonstrator. The new AH-6 software architecture allows for a product line architectural approach, lean Agile development, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) component integration. The software architecture and lean Agile practices enable faster integration and shortened development time. Creation of the AH-6 Agile software product line has led to significantly reduced time to first flight and is showing potential to significantly reduce development cost and integration cycle time. This paper details the software architecture, COTS utilization, and application of lean/Agile techniques and lessons learned that are directly applicable to other software intensive avionics platforms. The paper begins by describing the AH-6 program and history. The paper then details the NCORE software architecture used for the AH-6 foundation. The paper then describes the conversion to an NCORE product line and how feature development is handled. COTS utilization is mentioned for its benefits to the program. The use of Agile development is then detailed along with its benefits to the program. The paper concludes with how these methodologies are blended to provide maximum benefits to the AH-6 program.