Open architecture for naval air platforms can be translated into two words: real competition. Gerard Walles is the Avionics Department AIR-4.5 Staff Director for Open Architecture & Information Assurance for US Naval Air Systems Command in Pax River, Maryland. In speaking with Defence IQ, he talks about the challenge of keeping up with new technological developments while also keeping them 'open' to competitive upgrades further down the life cycle. In seeking what is good value and what systems to open up to competition, Mr Walles exercises his role in testing 'openness' among operating systems and prototypes. It's all about partnering with industry - and he expects a more streamlined cost-effective procurement process to emerge from these efforts.

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