MODAF
Encyclopedia
The British Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework (MODAF) is an Architecture Framework which defines a standardised way of conducting Enterprise Architecture
, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Initially the purpose of MODAF was to provide rigour and structure to support the definition and integration of MOD equipment capability, particularly in support of Network Enabled Capability
(NEC).
More recently, MOD has additionally been using MODAF to underpin the use of the Enterprise Architecture
approach to the capture of the information about the business to identify the processes and resources required to deliver the vision expressed in the strategy.
framework developed by the MOD
to support Defence planning and change management activities. It does this by enabling the capture and presentation of information in a rigorous, coherent and comprehensive way that aids the understanding of complex issues, thereby providing managers with the key factors they should consider when making decisions about changes to the business. It is used extensively in Defence acquisition to support systems engineering, particularly in support of Network Enabled Capability
(NEC], “which is about the coherent integration of sensors, decision-makers, weapon systems and support capabilities to achieve the desired effect.”
With the publication of the MOD Information Strategy (MODIS) and its Enterprise Architecture
(EA) Sub-Strategy, the MOD has recognised the utility of EA to support business improvement. MODAF is central to the use of EA in MOD.
MODAF is managed and maintained by staff working for the MOD’s Chief Information Officer(CIO), as part of their role to provide Information Policy and Standards. Additional support is provided by the MOD’s System Engineering and Integration Group, as part of their role in developing the System of Systems Approach (SOSA), a common set of principles, rules, and standards to enable the delivery of better interoperability between systems.
MOD is working closely with its International Allies to ensure coherence with their architecture frameworks to enable the sharing of information about capabilities fielded in coalition operations in-order to support interoperability. MODAF was developed from the US Department of Defense Architecture Framework
(DoDAF) version 1.0, but has been extended and modified to meet MOD requirements by the addition of Strategic, Acquisition and Service Oriented Viewpoints and the provision of the M3.
MODAF version 1.0 was released in 2005, following development work by the MODAF Partners, a collaborative team of MOD staff and contractors from a number of industry partners and has been continuously improved since Version 1.0, the latest release, version 1.2.004, was released in May 2010
(formerly the Defence Evaluation Research Agency) and a separate DoDAF-based development by MODAF Partners, a consortium of Cornwell Management Consulting (now Serco Group
) and PA Consulting Group
with Model Futures providing the technical input, and extended by other key suppliers such as Logica and Vega
through work for the MOD Integration Authority (as of April 2008 the System Engineering Integration Group (SEIG)). The initial version of MODAF combined the metamodel developed from the QinetiQ research programme and the views developed by MODAF Partners.
The Views are divided into seven categories (Viewpoints):
The relationship between the data in the MODAF Views is defined in the MODAF Meta Model, known as the M3. The M3 provides a logical structure for the storage of the data in a database and, subsequent, provides the necessary coherence for the data to be shared with other MODAF architectures.
. In addition, MODAF is widely used by its industry partners, such as BAE Systems
, Thales
, Lockheed Martin
, Boeing
and Serco. It is also used by other government departments and agencies, such as GCHQ, and external bodies such as the National Air Traffic Services
(NATS). MODAF is used by the Swedish Armed Forces to support the development of military capability, and it has been adapted by NATO to form the core of the NATO Architecture Framework
(NAF).
is working closely with the United States Department of Defense
, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the Australian Department of Defence, and the Swedish Armed Forces
to develop the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification
(IDEAS). Although the focus for IDEAS
has been the ability to provide a mechanism to better enable the exchange of architecture information between Nations, the IDEAS Management Group
are also actively considering how their architecture frameworks should converge, perhaps into a single unified architecture framework.
with downloads in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
; HTML
and XMI formats. to provide a coherent structure against which architecture information can be exchanged. A number of tools offer this functionality.
MOD has been working with the Object Management Group
(OMG) to develop the Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM
), a standard specification that provides an accurate representation of the M3
for tools based on the Unified Modelling Language (UML) or Systems Modelling Language
(SysML)
An "architectural description" is a contiguous, coherent model of an enterprise. An architectural description comprises "architectural products". MODAF is not an architectural description.
A "view" is a specification of a way to present an aspect of the enterprise. Views are defined with one or more purposes in mind - e.g., showing the logical topology of the enterprise, describing a process model, defining a data model, etc.
An "architectural product" is a model of some aspect of the enterprise. An architectural product conforms to a "view"
A "viewpoint" is a collection of "views." Viewpoints are usually categorized by domain - e.g., in MODAF there are seven viewpoints.
In addition, revision 3 of the NATO Architecture Framework
(NAF) is identical to MODAF at its core, but extends the framework by adding views for Bandwidth Analysis, SOA and Standards configurations.
MODAF is also the basis for other frameworks such as TRAK
, a domain-free framework, which is based on MODAF 1.2
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Initially the purpose of MODAF was to provide rigour and structure to support the definition and integration of MOD equipment capability, particularly in support of Network Enabled Capability
Network Enabled Capability
Network-enabled capability, or NEC, is the name given to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence intent to achieve enhanced military effect through the better use of information systems towards the goal of "right information, right place, right time – and not too much".NEC is envisaged as the...
(NEC).
More recently, MOD has additionally been using MODAF to underpin the use of the Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
approach to the capture of the information about the business to identify the processes and resources required to deliver the vision expressed in the strategy.
Overview
MODAF is an internationally recognised enterprise architectureEnterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
framework developed by the MOD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
to support Defence planning and change management activities. It does this by enabling the capture and presentation of information in a rigorous, coherent and comprehensive way that aids the understanding of complex issues, thereby providing managers with the key factors they should consider when making decisions about changes to the business. It is used extensively in Defence acquisition to support systems engineering, particularly in support of Network Enabled Capability
Network Enabled Capability
Network-enabled capability, or NEC, is the name given to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence intent to achieve enhanced military effect through the better use of information systems towards the goal of "right information, right place, right time – and not too much".NEC is envisaged as the...
(NEC], “which is about the coherent integration of sensors, decision-makers, weapon systems and support capabilities to achieve the desired effect.”
With the publication of the MOD Information Strategy (MODIS) and its Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
(EA) Sub-Strategy, the MOD has recognised the utility of EA to support business improvement. MODAF is central to the use of EA in MOD.
MODAF is managed and maintained by staff working for the MOD’s Chief Information Officer(CIO), as part of their role to provide Information Policy and Standards. Additional support is provided by the MOD’s System Engineering and Integration Group, as part of their role in developing the System of Systems Approach (SOSA), a common set of principles, rules, and standards to enable the delivery of better interoperability between systems.
MOD is working closely with its International Allies to ensure coherence with their architecture frameworks to enable the sharing of information about capabilities fielded in coalition operations in-order to support interoperability. MODAF was developed from the US Department of Defense Architecture Framework
Department of Defense Architecture Framework
The Department of Defense Architecture Framework is an architecture framework for the United States Department of Defense, that provides structure for a specific stakeholder concern through viewpoints organized by various views....
(DoDAF) version 1.0, but has been extended and modified to meet MOD requirements by the addition of Strategic, Acquisition and Service Oriented Viewpoints and the provision of the M3.
MODAF version 1.0 was released in 2005, following development work by the MODAF Partners, a collaborative team of MOD staff and contractors from a number of industry partners and has been continuously improved since Version 1.0, the latest release, version 1.2.004, was released in May 2010
History
MODAF was initially developed for MOD from two parallel work strands, an MOD-funded research programme undertaken by QinetiQQinetiQ
Qinetiq is a British global defence technology company, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency , when it was split up in June 2001...
(formerly the Defence Evaluation Research Agency) and a separate DoDAF-based development by MODAF Partners, a consortium of Cornwell Management Consulting (now Serco Group
Serco Group
Serco Group plc is a government services company based in Hook, North Hampshire in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
) and PA Consulting Group
PA Consulting Group
PA Consulting Group is a global management and IT consulting and technology and innovation organisation with specialist expertise across the defence, energy, financial services, government and public services, healthcare, automotive and consumer goods, telecoms, and transport and logistics sectors...
with Model Futures providing the technical input, and extended by other key suppliers such as Logica and Vega
Vega Group
In January 2009, VEGA Group PLC was merged with SELEX Systems Integration Ltd.-See also:# SELEX Galileo, part of Finmeccanica's defence electronics sector# SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a civil and military radar company which is part of Finmeccanica...
through work for the MOD Integration Authority (as of April 2008 the System Engineering Integration Group (SEIG)). The initial version of MODAF combined the metamodel developed from the QinetiQ research programme and the views developed by MODAF Partners.
Framework
MODAF is a set of templates (called “Views”) that provide a standard notation for the capture of information about a business in order to identify ways to improve the business. Each MODAF View offers a different perspective on the business to support different stakeholder interests, presented in a format, usually graphical, that aids understanding of how a business operates.The Views are divided into seven categories (Viewpoints):
- Strategic Viewpoint (StV) defines the desired business outcome, and what capabilities are required to achieve it;
- Operational Viewpoint (OV) defines (in abstract rather than physical terms) the processes, information and entities needed to fulfil the capability requirements;
- Service Orientated Viewpoint (SOV) describes the services, (i.e. units of work supplied by providers to consumers), required to support the processes described in the operational Views;
- Systems Viewpoint (SV) describes the physical implementation of the Operational and Service Orientated Views and, thereby, define the solution;
- Acquisition Viewpoint (AcV) describes the dependencies and timelines of the projects that will of deliver the solution;
- Technical Viewpoint (TV) defines the standards that are to be applied to the solution;
- All Viewpoint (AV) provides a description and glossary of the contents of the architecture.
The relationship between the data in the MODAF Views is defined in the MODAF Meta Model, known as the M3. The M3 provides a logical structure for the storage of the data in a database and, subsequent, provides the necessary coherence for the data to be shared with other MODAF architectures.
Functionality of Framework
In MOD, MODAF has primarily been used in acquisition domains, programmes and delivery teams to support the delivery of military capability, particularly NEC. A number of MODAF architectures directly support operations in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. In addition, MODAF is widely used by its industry partners, such as BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and Serco. It is also used by other government departments and agencies, such as GCHQ, and external bodies such as the National Air Traffic Services
National Air Traffic Services
NATS Ltd. is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK Flight Information Regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to fifteen UK airports and Gibraltar...
(NATS). MODAF is used by the Swedish Armed Forces to support the development of military capability, and it has been adapted by NATO to form the core of the NATO Architecture Framework
NATO Architecture Framework
The NATO Architecture Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework by the NATO derived from the DoDAF Enterprise architecture.The current NATO C3 System Architecture Framework v2 , issued by NATO in September 2004 provides guidance on describing communication and information systems...
(NAF).
Harmonisation
MODAF will continue in its current form for the foreseeable future. However, MODMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
is working closely with the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the Australian Department of Defence, and the Swedish Armed Forces
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
to develop the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification
IDEAS Group
The IDEAS Group is the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architectures. The scope is four nation and covers MODAF , DoDAF , and the Australian Defence Architecture...
(IDEAS). Although the focus for IDEAS
IDEAS Group
The IDEAS Group is the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architectures. The scope is four nation and covers MODAF , DoDAF , and the Australian Defence Architecture...
has been the ability to provide a mechanism to better enable the exchange of architecture information between Nations, the IDEAS Management Group
IDEAS Group
The IDEAS Group is the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architectures. The scope is four nation and covers MODAF , DoDAF , and the Australian Defence Architecture...
are also actively considering how their architecture frameworks should converge, perhaps into a single unified architecture framework.
Tools and Tooling
MOD is “agnostic” about which software tools should or should not be used to develop MODAF architectures. The key requirement is that they should correctly implement the M3MODAF Meta-Model
The MODAF Meta-Model is the underlying model for the UK MoD Architecture Framework . It defines a UML profile by extending the UML 2.1 Meta-Model. The M3 was one of the key inputs to the OMG UPDM specification.Version 1.1 of the M3 was released on 18 May 2007...
with downloads in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
Enterprise Architect (Visual Modeling Platform)
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect is a visual modeling and design tool based on the OMG UML. The platform supports: the design and construction of software systems; modeling business processes; and modeling industry based domains...
; HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
and XMI formats. to provide a coherent structure against which architecture information can be exchanged. A number of tools offer this functionality.
MOD has been working with the Object Management Group
Object Management Group
Object Management Group is a consortium, originally aimed at setting standards for distributed object-oriented systems, and is now focused on modeling and model-based standards.- Overview :...
(OMG) to develop the Unified Profile for DoDAF and MODAF (UPDM
UPDM
The Unified Profile for DoDAF/MODAF is the product of an Object Management Group ] initiative to develop a modeling standard that supports both the USA Department of Defense Architecture Framework and the UK Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework...
), a standard specification that provides an accurate representation of the M3
MODAF Meta-Model
The MODAF Meta-Model is the underlying model for the UK MoD Architecture Framework . It defines a UML profile by extending the UML 2.1 Meta-Model. The M3 was one of the key inputs to the OMG UPDM specification.Version 1.1 of the M3 was released on 18 May 2007...
for tools based on the Unified Modelling Language (UML) or Systems Modelling Language
Systems Modeling Language
The Systems Modeling Language is a general-purpose modeling language for systems engineering applications. It supports the specification, analysis, design, verification and validation of a broad range of systems and systems-of-systems. SysML was originally developed by an open source specification...
(SysML)
Terminology
An "architectural framework" or "architecture framework" is a specification of how to organise and present architectural models. An architectural framework consists of a standard set of views, which each have a specific purpose.An "architectural description" is a contiguous, coherent model of an enterprise. An architectural description comprises "architectural products". MODAF is not an architectural description.
A "view" is a specification of a way to present an aspect of the enterprise. Views are defined with one or more purposes in mind - e.g., showing the logical topology of the enterprise, describing a process model, defining a data model, etc.
An "architectural product" is a model of some aspect of the enterprise. An architectural product conforms to a "view"
A "viewpoint" is a collection of "views." Viewpoints are usually categorized by domain - e.g., in MODAF there are seven viewpoints.
Applications
Although originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence, MODAF is the standard architecture framework for other organisations, such as:- GCHQ
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- National Air Traffic ServicesNational Air Traffic ServicesNATS Ltd. is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK Flight Information Regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to fifteen UK airports and Gibraltar...
- MooD International use MODAF Solutions (built using their MooD Technology) for the Defence and National Security Sectors - see http://www.moodinternational.com/
- BAE SystemsBAE SystemsBAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
use MODAF on a number of internal programmes, most notably their TRAiDE environment - EADSEADSThe European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
use MODAF as part of the Modelling and Simulation process for NetCOS their Synthetic Environment - Thales GroupThales GroupThe Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
use MODAF in their work for UK MOD - AvolutionAvolutionAvolution is a global provider of Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Modeling and Process Modeling software with offices based in Sydney - Australia, Oxford - UK and the Washington Metropolitan Area - USA...
use MODAF widely within the UK Defence and Security sectors - Niteworks use MODAF extensively on problem solving and warfighter experimentation for the UK MOD - See http://www.niteworks.net
- Centric Labs use MODAF as part of the Modelling process for the Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- BAA Limited - see http://www.centriclabs.se/
- Model Futures Ltd. uses MODAF, and were part of the original team that developed the framework for MOD - see http://www.modelfutures.com
In addition, revision 3 of the NATO Architecture Framework
NATO Architecture Framework
The NATO Architecture Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework by the NATO derived from the DoDAF Enterprise architecture.The current NATO C3 System Architecture Framework v2 , issued by NATO in September 2004 provides guidance on describing communication and information systems...
(NAF) is identical to MODAF at its core, but extends the framework by adding views for Bandwidth Analysis, SOA and Standards configurations.
MODAF is also the basis for other frameworks such as TRAK
TRAK
TRAK is a general enterprise architecture framework aimed at systems engineers based on MODAF 1.2.-History:TRAK was originally commissioned by London Underground Limited...
, a domain-free framework, which is based on MODAF 1.2
See also
- DoDAFDepartment of Defense Architecture FrameworkThe Department of Defense Architecture Framework is an architecture framework for the United States Department of Defense, that provides structure for a specific stakeholder concern through viewpoints organized by various views....
- IDEAS GroupIDEAS GroupThe IDEAS Group is the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architectures. The scope is four nation and covers MODAF , DoDAF , and the Australian Defence Architecture...
- MOD OntologyMOD OntologyThe MOD Ontology is the name given to the upper ontology intended to support the UK Ministry of Defence's Enterprise Architecture Programme, specifically MODAF. The ontology project is at an early stage and is being led by DG-Info ....
- UPDMUPDMThe Unified Profile for DoDAF/MODAF is the product of an Object Management Group ] initiative to develop a modeling standard that supports both the USA Department of Defense Architecture Framework and the UK Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework...
- AGATEAGATE (architecture framework)AGATE is a framework for modeling computer or communication systems architecture....
- DNDAF
External links
- MOD Information Strategy (MODIS) 2009
- DE&S Systems of Systems Approach (SOSA)
- MOD Site for MODAF
- MODAF Meta-Model
- Zachman International
- Integrated EA Various Presentations on MODAF from Integrated EA Conferences 2008-2010