A US Air Force team flight tested a newly-developed Open Systems Enclave (OSE) with an F-22’s existing hardware last month.
It was the first in-flight use of open-source container orchestration software on any fighter and the first instance where third-party software was integrated on a fifth-generation fighter in flight, Air Combat Command stated.
A team consisting of Air Combat Command Federal Laboratory members, software developers from the 309th Software Engineering Group, and test pilots from Edwards Air Force Base developed the OSE.
The OSE consists of a government-owned software architecture capable of rapidly integrating new technologies in less than 60 days.
Helps Deliver Combat Capability Faster
The milestone paves the way for faster software acquisition “where apps are rapidly developed, matured, and delivered to the warfighter at the push of a button,” ACC stated.
F-22 test pilot and project co-lead Maj. Allen Black said, “This breakthrough fundamentally changes how we can deliver combat capability to the warfighter.”
“We’ve proven the ability to rapidly evaluate and integrate next-generation technologies developed by experts in government, industry, and academia at a lower cost with software portability across defense platforms.”
The command is awaiting a formal decision to establish OSE on the F-22.
