Node A6 · Acronym decoder
MOSA
Modular Open Systems Approach
What it actually means
The strategy (now statutory for major defense programs) of building systems from modules with well-defined, openly published key interfaces — so components can be competed, upgraded, and replaced without going back to the original vendor for permission. The engineering is in choosing which interfaces to standardize; the business fight is over who owns them.
Where you'll meet it
Acquisition strategies, intellectual property negotiations, and standards like FACE and SOSA.