As the Sensor Open Systems Architecture™ (SOSA) Technical Standard approaches its first official release, suppliers, integrators, and Defense Departments in both the United States and internationally are making preparations to adopt the document and to create products and systems based on it.

Thus, even before its official release the SOSA Technical Standard is having an impact on how complex defense sensor systems are designed and implemented, and demonstration platforms are showing that open system architectures (OSA) have the potential to accelerate system deployment and lower development costs.

In this whitepaper we explore the SOSA Technical Standard and its potential for transformative effects on sensor system development.