The U.S. Navy is moving away from its current stovepiped network system toward one that is service-based and in line with the concept of an open architecture. This report investigates the potential software services within the Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence that could be used as part of a service-oriented architecture.

To assess how well current inflation indices and discount rates serve weapon-system program management, this study investigates inflation rates for parts for the Abrams and Bradley ground vehicles. Because even similar systems experience inflation differently, estimating strategies should be reviewed annually to reflect changing costs, and analysis of investments should be expanded to ensure consideration of least-cost outcomes.