FACE/Open Architecture Computing Systems

As modern avionics and mission systems are relying more and more on integrated systems, advanced processing, and general purpose and specific software applications, the challenge has become to control development and support costs, to minimize systems being tied to a single provider for the life of a program, and to reduce development, integration, and certification time cycles.  In order to address these growing challenges, the US Government and an industry team has identified the need for portability of software applications, interoperability of hardware and software, and secure and robust systems.  It has been concluded that these goals can only be achieved through the use of open architecture hardware, software, and systems.  As a means to foster these open architecture approaches to new and retrofit programs, the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE™) Consortium was formed to define requirements and standards for the creation of affordable software systems that promote innovation and rapid integration of portable capabilities across global defense programs, standard interfaces that will lead to reuse of capabilities, and portable, and robust, interoperable, and secure applications.

Astronautics has been dedicated to working with our customers and end users of our products to maximize the use, reduce cost, and ensure long term supportability of these products.  A critical element of these efforts has been the recognition that open architecture systems provide the most benefit to our customers.  In support of this open architecture concept, Astronautics has developed many families of Server, Mission Computers, Display Processors, and Electronic Flight Bag systems specifically designed to enable our customers to utilize, adapt and support these products.  With the advent of the FACE Consortium, Astronautics has targeted its software and hardware efforts toward conforming to the open architecture concepts of FACE.  Research and development is working to: