Joint Common Architecture Demonstration Lessons Learned - Honeywell Perspective

Under the US Army's Science and Technology (S&T) Joint Multi Role (JMR) Program, the Joint Common Architecture (JCA) Demonstration (aka, JCA Demo) project was established to exercise the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACETM) Standard and tools, validate the JCA concept and reduce risk for follow-on efforts. This was achieved by procuring a software component called the Data Correlation and Fusion Manager (DCFM) along with a Reusable Verification Component (RVC) from multiple vendors, built to the same specification and integrated on multiple undisclosed operating environments (OEs) designed to host FACE conformant Units of Portability (UoPs). Interaction between the software developers and the system integrator was tightly controlled to evaluate whether the information provided was sufficient to define a component that is modular, portable, and interchangeable. A representative acquisition approach was used whereby the interface requirements were provided in the form of a data model. This paper will discuss the experience, significant issues, and lessons learned.