A model of electronic warfare systems acquisition and engineering for Saudi Arabia

A major activity within the systems engineering process is the requirements definition and analysis phase. In technical systems, planning this phase looks too technical for top management and too broad for the engineers specialized in narrow technical fields. This categorization (too technical/too broad) represents a gap between top management and specialized engineering. In Saudi Arabia, such a gap is believed to be very wide.; The main objective of this research is to find a way to narrow this gap between management and engineering when planning government systems, especially in electronic warfare (EW) systems. A solution in this effort is to streamline the process of systems acquisition, with more focus on the requirements definition phase before signing the contract.; An acquisition procedural model has been developed. This model is structured in five sequenced phases linked through decision points. The first phase focuses on a method to develop threat analysis reports and why such a deterrent capability is needed. Requirements engineering is the main activity within the second phase. In this phase, the concept of structuring systems and subsystems into objects is explored by applying object-oriented expert systems to probe requirements completeness, correctness, consistency, traceability, timeliness, and documentation. Skeletons of three object-oriented knowledge bases for a Planning Support for Communication System (PSCS) were developed using EW sub-fields as the domain objects. The other three model phases are invitation for presentation, request-for-proposal (RFP) package development, and source selection.; Government and corporate engineers in Saudi Arabia have reviewed the model, and it has a strong potential of becoming a Saudi national standard. Data analysis attributes the model's strength to its applicability in (1) structuring the task of systems acquisition and keeping a documentation profile; (2) increasing government agencies' self-reliance when planning systems; and (3) facilitating the generation of sound requirements.