Research on System-of-Systems Acquisition

Abstract

The acquisition of a system of systems (SoS) is an acquisition of multiple systems that are intended to operate together as a system of systems. Much more common in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is the acquisition of one or more new systems that are intended to interoperate with existing systems as a SoS with new capabilities. In either case, a successful acquisition of a system of systems necessarily depends on effective contracting structures and processes for SoS acquisition. In this paper, we define a set of SoS issues that need to be addressed in SoS acquisition, and we discuss the current findings in this on-going research. Our findings suggest an extensive systems engineering effort be sustained within the SoS acquisition and, to maximize the probability of SoS acquisition success, a change to the existing contracting structures and process and organizational structures.