Object-oriented Development for DoDAF System of Systems

The Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) provides architectural artifact examples for modeling complex system of systems within the information-centric and hardware-centric global battlespace theater. This framework is utilized by all U.S. government agencies and military branches that procure military hardware and plan for tomorrow's strategic evolution in the armed forces. This framework must be adopted by those business organizations who wish to market their products to the U.S. military. The models mandated by the DoDAF do not always align with the software development methods and production processes utilized in the commercial enterprises who position their products for acquisition into the network centric military markets. This is especially true for software industries where object oriented analysis and design methods have become entrenched as an industry standard. This paper analyzes object oriented development of complex systems and compares the artifacts produced through this method with artifacts produced through the structured architecture techniques described by the DoDAF. The comparison provides an evaluation of the commonality and gaps between both ideologies.