SMC Systems Engineering Primer & Handbook Concepts, Processes, and Techniques System of Systems System Subsystem Subsystem Subsystem Space & Missile Systems Center U.S. Air Force 2nd Edition 15 January 2004 SMC Systems Engineering i SMC Systems Engineering Concepts, Processes, and Techniques ii SMC Systems Engineering SMC Systems Engineering iii Table of Contents Foreword...................................................................................................................................... xi Preface ........................................................................................................................................ xii Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1 SMC Systems Engineering Primer............................................................................... 1 What is a System?.................................................................................................................... 1 Military Systems ................................................................................................................. 1 Types of System Elements .................................................................................................. 1 What is a Space System? .........................................................................................................2 What’s different about a Space System?.................................................................................. 2 The Space Environment ...................................................................................................... 2 Unattended Operation ......................................................................................................... 3 The Ultimate High Ground.................................................................................................. 3 What is a Family of Systems or a System of Systems? ........................................................... 4 What is a System Acquisition Program? (How does a military system come to be?)............. 4 Department of Defense (DoD) Process for Acquiring a System......................................... 5 What is a System Capability Need (or Requirement)?............................................................. 6 What is a Technical Requirement or Constraint?..................................................................... 7 The System Environment .................................................................................................... 8 What are Interfaces?............................................................................................................8 What is Architecture or a System Architecture?...................................................................... 9 Architectural Standards ..................................................................................................... 10 CJCS Definition ................................................................................................................ 10 Open-Standards Systems Architecture Approach ............................................................. 10 Why OSSA........................................................................................................................11 What is Forward Compatibility? ....................................................................................... 12 The C4ISR Architecture Framework................................................................................. 12 Architecture–A Recap ....................................................................................................... 12 What is Systems Engineering?............................................................................................... 13 What is the Systems Engineering Process?............................................................................ 16 Requirements Analysis and Concept Refinement ............................................................. 16 Further Concept and System Development and Design .................................................... 22 Completion of Development and the Product Configuration Baseline ............................. 27 What is the Relationship of Systems Engineering to Program Management?....................... 31 How We Got to Where We Are? ........................................................................................... 33 Why is Systems Engineering Useful?.................................................................................... 35 Chapter 2 How Does the Systems Engineering Process Work? ................................................. 37 The Capability Needs Process................................................................................................ 37 Functional Area Analysis .................................................................................................. 38 Functional Needs Analysis................................................................................................ 38 Functional Solution Analysis ............................................................................................ 38 iv SMC Systems Engineering JCIDS Process and Document Descriptions...................................................................... 39 JCIDS Document Descriptions ......................................................................................... 39 The Systems Engineering Process ......................................................................................... 41 Requirements Analysis .......................................................................................................... 43 Missions and Environments Analysis ............................................................................... 44 Functional Requirements Identification ............................................................................ 45 Performance Requirements and Design Constraints Definition and Refinement.............. 45 Functional Analysis and Allocation .................................................................................. 45 Decomposition .................................................................................................................. 46 Allocation.......................................................................................................................... 47 Functional Architecture..................................................................................................... 47 Interfaces........................................................................................................................... 48 Synthesis ........................................................................................................................... 48 Architecture Transformation ............................................................................................. 50 C4ISR Architecture Framework........................................................................................ 51 Alternate System Concepts and Elements Definition........................................................ 51 Physical Interfaces Definition ........................................................................................... 52 Alternate Product and Process Definition ......................................................................... 52 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)................................................................................... 53 System Analysis and Control................................................................................................. 54 Trade Studies and Analyses .............................................................................................. 55 A Few Words About Time..................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 3 Life Cycle Phases of a Major System ........................................................................ 59 Pre-KDP-A (Concept Refinement) ........................................................................................ 60 Phase A–Study Phase (Technology Development)................................................................ 61 Phase B–Design Phase (System Development & Demonstration) ........................................ 63 Phase C–-Build, Test Launch (Production & Deployment, Operations & Support).............. 64 Phase C1–Build, Test (Production) ................................................................................... 64 Phase C2–Launch (Deployment)....................................................................................... 66 Phase C3– Operations & Support...................................................................................... 66 Phase C4–Disposal............................................................................................................ 66 Systems Engineering–Software Development....................................................................... 69 Systems Software Development........................................................................................ 70 Evolution of Software Development Standards ................................................................ 70 Software Acquisition Strategy Considerations.................................................................. 71 Software Development Lifecycle.....................................................................................