MIL-STD-498: WHAT'S NEW, AND SOME REAL LESSONS LEARNED

Abstract

In his June 29, 1994 memo, Secretary of Defense Perry challenged Dod agencies (and Industry) to move to greater use of performance and commercial specifications and standards, and shelved a host of military standards, including those related to software. After an intense lobbying effort by the Dod and Industry, the DoD approved the use of MIL-STD-498 for two years; assuming, a non-Government software standard would replace it in that time frame. The U.S. Navy and Air Force have issued waivers permitting MIL-STD-498 to be invoked on contracts. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) are working together to create a nonGovernment software standard. Because MIL-STD498 is new and being applied on selected projects, there is no published information on its practical use. This paper briefly: (1) highlights MIL-STD-498 as the new way of developing software; (2) examines MIL-STD-498's application on a governmentsponsored real-time guidance, navigation, and control project underway at the Draper Laboratory; and (3) reviews the effort to create non-Government software Standards.