Resilience in the Supply Chain How Secure Are System Architectures?

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ELMA Electronic GmbH

GGB Heilbronn GmbH

In an era of rapidly changing geopolitical conditions, supply chain resilience has become a decisive factor in system design.

The defence industry faces a particular challenge when planning new applications: in a world where geopolitical conditions change in ever shorter cycles, the question of supply security becomes the key factor behind every technical decision. Yet projects often span a decade or more from initial concept to full production readiness. This makes the choice of system architecture especially critical.Today, two standards dominate the discussion: OpenVPX, which has been established for more than a decade, and the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA)—a comparatively young standard with strong ambitions.

At the core, two key dimensions must be considered: a physical dimension, which concerns the stability of supply chains, and a regulatory dimension, which determines sovereignty over standards and export regulations.

Physical Security: Supply Chains as the Foundation

OpenVPX is firmly established in the market and is regarded as the benchmark when hardware is required to offer maximum robustness. Over the years, it has evolved into a mature architecture whose entire chain can be covered by European suppliers—from the enclosure and backplane to the connectors. Even complex components such as processors or memory may originate from international manufacturers, yet multiple sourcing options across different world regions typically ensure availability, even under challenging scenarios. This reduces the risk of project standstills due to single-point bottlenecks. For engineers, OpenVPX already offers a high degree of planning reliability.

The situation with SOSA is somewhat different. While the architecture is based on VPX, it introduces its own interfaces and profiles, which are only gradually becoming widely available in European manufacturing. Although the key components are technically in place, a fully developed value chain within Europe has yet to be established. Nevertheless, European manufacturers are showing confidence: the experience gained with OpenVPX has demonstrated that complex architectures can be built up and secured sustainably under European control. It is therefore likely that SOSA, too, will develop robust European supply chains in the medium term – though at present, this process remains in progress.

Regulatory Security: Sovereignty Over Standards

Another decisive distinction lies in the origin of the standards themselves. OpenVPX was developed from the outset as an international standard, with both European and American companies actively participating. The specifications are defined under the VITA organisation, which has long benefited from European contributions. In countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, specific interpretations have been established that make it possible to distinguish VPX-based systems clearly from US export controls. This ITAR-free status allows components and systems to move freely within Europe and to be integrated into international programmes without licensing obligations.

SOSA, on the other hand, originated as an American initiative and follows specifications strongly influenced by the US Department of Defence. For the European defence industry, this means that projects can only be planned independently and over the long term if a clearly ITAR-free interpretation of SOSA is also developed. Initial approaches to this are emerging: European manufacturers are working to define profiles that remain SOSA-compliant while being independent of US export control. However, this process is still in its early stages.

Conclusion: Balancing Opportunities and Risks

When planning new applications, engineers must weigh the risks associated with both dimensions. OpenVPX today offers a proven architecture that is fully supported by European supply chains and backed by an established regulatory framework ensuring ITAR-free operation. Those who choose OpenVPX can plan with a high level of confidence.

SOSA, meanwhile, offers the prospect of a modern, profile-based architecture but comes with greater uncertainty. Its physical supply chain is still being developed, and on the regulatory side, European interpretations are yet to be fully defined. For engineers, adopting SOSA therefore entails both opportunities and risks—opportunities in shaping a rising standard early on, and risks that call for active management through multi-sourcing strategies, close coordination with European partners, and continuous monitoring of regulatory developments.

Those who adopt SOSA today are also investing in the future viability of the European defence electronics industry—while accepting that the path towards full security is still being built. Over time, these risks will continue to diminish, especially since SOSA’s very goal is to promote the interchangeability of modules. Confidence in the European electronics sector is therefore well justified.