Defense Industry Discusses Gaps in Modular Open Systems Approach Standards

At the 2026 MOSA Industry and Government Summit, panelists discussed the challenges of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) in defense solicitations. Jonathan Cain, senior engineering manager at Raytheon, noted that requests for information often contain pockets of excellence separated by significant gaps. Tony Maida, chief misfit at Modular Misfits, argued that MOSA requirements cannot be limited to a single section of a solicitation.

The discussion focused on how defense solicitations are structured and what industry expects from these documents. Panelists stressed that for MOSA to be effective, requirements must appear in sections covering interfaces, data rights, sustainment, and proposal evaluation.