The U.S. Army's MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) is ushering in a new era of military aviation through its adoption of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). This architectural framework allows for rapid, cost-effective upgrades to essential aircraft systems, ensuring adaptability and relevance against evolving threats. The MV-75 FLRAA breaks away from traditional, tightly coupled systems, allowing individual components to be upgraded or replaced without extensive system-wide redesign.

The MV-75 FLRAA program office has rigorously evaluated over 1,600 distinct use case attributes within a comprehensive model-based systems engineering (MBSE) framework provided by Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. Company. These assessments validated the MV-75 FLRAA’s ability to seamlessly integrate future upgrades, such as advanced sensors, weapons systems, and communication technologies, securing the Army’s technological advantage while maximizing long-term cost savings and minimizing downtime. This digital modeling approach allows engineers to identify and address integration challenges early in the design process.

The MV-75 FLRAA stands out as one of the Army's first "digital-first" weapon systems, leveraging MBSE, digital twins, virtual representations of the physical aircraft and MOSA. This approach allows the Army to virtually refine the MV-75 FLRAA’s architecture and simulate performance before physical construction, minimizing development risks and maximizing efficiency. This forward-thinking approach prepares FLRAA not just for today's battlefield, but for the anticipated threats of tomorrow.

MOSA, a technical and business strategy for designing adaptable and affordable systems, is the Department of Defense's (DoD) preferred method for implementing open systems and is mandated by law (Title 10 U.S.C. 4401(b)) for all major defense acquisition programs. It enables "plug-and-play" integration of upgrades, allowing military equipment to evolve quickly and affordably by leveraging competition among vendors and fostering innovation. This contrasts with traditional procurement processes, which often involve costly and time-consuming custom integration efforts. MOSA fosters competition and drives down costs, ensuring the Army gets the best technology at the best price.

MV-75 FLRAA represents a paradigm shift in military aircraft acquisition and development. By embracing MOSA principles from the outset and integrating them deeply into a digital-first design philosophy, the Army is not just fielding a next-generation aircraft, but establishing a new standard for adaptability, sustainability, and long-term cost-effectiveness. This approach ensures the MV-75 FLRAA can readily evolve to meet unforeseen challenges and integrate cutting-edge technologies, maintaining overmatch capabilities in the face of an ever-changing threat landscape for decades to come.