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Managing the interstitials, a System of Systems framework suited for the Ballistic Missile Defense System

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  • Robert K. Garrett
  • Steve Anderson
  • Neil T. Baron
  • James D. Moreland

Abstract

Recent engineering experiences with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) highlight the need to analyze the BMDS System of Systems (SoS) including the numerous potential interactions between independently developed elements of the system. The term “interstitials” is used to define the domain of interfaces, interoperability, and integration between constituent systems in an SoS. The authors feel that this domain, at an SoS level, has received insufficient attention within systems engineering literature. The BMDS represents a challenging SoS case study as many of its initial elements were assembled from existing programs of record. The elements tend to perform as designed but their performance measures may not be consistent with the higher level SoS requirements. One of the BMDS challenges is interoperability, to focus the independent elements to interact in a number of ways, either subtle or overt, for a predictable and sustainable national capability. New capabilities desired by national leadership may involve modifications to kill chains, Command and Control (C2) constructs, improved coordination, and performance. These capabilities must be realized through modifications to programs of record and integration across elements of the system that have their own independent programmatic momentum. A challenge of SoS Engineering is to objectively evaluate competing solutions and assess the technical viability of tradeoff options. This paper will present a multifaceted technical approach for integrating a complex, adaptive SoS to achieve a functional capability. Architectural frameworks will be explored, a mathematical technique utilizing graph theory will be introduced, adjuncts to more traditional modeling and simulation techniques such as agent based modeling will be explored, and, finally, newly developed technical and managerial metrics to describe design maturity will be introduced. A theater BMDS construct will be used as a representative set of elements together with the interstitials representing the integration domain. Increased attention to the interstitial space of the overarching BMDS SoS construct and applying appropriate technical rigor and engineering due diligence with these added tools should greatly assist the BMDS in realizing its potential. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 14: 87–109, 2011

Suggested Citation

  • Robert K. Garrett & Steve Anderson & Neil T. Baron & James D. Moreland, 2011. "Managing the interstitials, a System of Systems framework suited for the Ballistic Missile Defense System," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 87-109, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:syseng:v:14:y:2011:i:1:p:87-109
    DOI: 10.1002/sys.20173
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    Cited by:

    1. Eileen McConkie & Thomas A. Mazzuchi & Shahram Sarkani & D. Marchette, 2013. "Mathematical properties of System Readiness Levels," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), pages 391-400, December.
    2. Nil Kilicay‐Ergin & Cihan Dagli, 2015. "Incentive‐Based Negotiation Model for System of Systems Acquisition," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 310-321, May.
    3. Navindran Davendralingam & Daniel. A. DeLaurentis, 2015. "A Robust Portfolio Optimization Approach to System of System Architectures," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 269-283, May.
    4. Dinçer Konur & Hadi Farhangi & Cihan H. Dagli, 2016. "A multi-objective military system of systems architecting problem with inflexible and flexible systems: formulation and solution methods," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 38(4), pages 967-1006, October.

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