What is HOST
Hardware Open Systems Technologies (HOST) is a standards framework that applies open architectures to high-performance embedded computing.
These standards support a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to implementing systems based on Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components for embedded computing on U.S. Defense Platform Open Systems.
By ensuring that all developed components use standardized interfaces, HOST provides the interchangeability of newer technologies and promotes the reuse of hardware designs for existing and future platforms. HOST facilitates affordable and supportable system development and modernization.
The HOST Standard was developed and is sponsored by NAVAIR PMA-209 Avionics Architecture Team. Unlike the Future Airborne Capability Environment™ (FACE) Technical Standard or the Sensor Open Systems Architecture™ (SOSA) Technical Standard, HOST is not a consortium managed standard. Rather, the HOST standard is maintained by NAVAIR who uses a team of academicians and industry members to coordinate with integrators, module vendors, and related standards groups such as VITA.
System Life Cycles
The obsolescence of electronic components is a significant challenge in the defense industry, where programs can run for decades longer than expected. The current process is costly and results in slow cycle times due to substantial design coupling of system components.
HOST addresses this issue by using open architectures to provide a standardized structure during component design for production and redesigns of fielded aircraft. This framework results in facilitating modularity and interoperability to reduce costs and more rapidly increase upgradeability.
