Military off-the-shelf products (MOTS) are commercial software products available to both the military and public. They offer cost and time savings, but may not meet all military requirements and may require modification. Critics argue they may not meet security needs and cause short-term cost increases.
A military off-the-shelf product (MOTS) is a software product that is usually available not only to the military, but also to the general public. In most cases, it is commercially available, which is why it is sometimes called a standard commercial product (COTS). Standard military products have been heavily emphasized in the US military since the mid-1990s.
Defense administrators say there are many benefits to a standard military product. The main advantages are cost and time savings. If there is a suitable commercial program for the military to use, it can often be obtained for less cost than writing a new program. Also, because most commercial programs have been thoroughly tested, there are fewer bugs causing problems and fewer major updates. Also, since the product is already on the market, there is no delay in getting and using it.
While an off-the-shelf military product can yield some benefits, there are also challenges. In many cases, commercial software may work well for some military applications. Payroll software, for example, can be sufficiently standardized regardless of the industry or military that uses it. However, some features may not be suitable for a standard military product.
The first step in choosing a standard army is to determine what sources it may come from. Different companies may offer different programs, some of which are better than others for military users. Once the source has been identified, it is then necessary to choose the standard military product that will offer the easiest and therefore most cost-effective transition.
Some products can meet most requirements that an army may have, but not all. In these cases, it may be necessary to modify the source code of a standard military product. If this is the case, the product becomes a modified standard product, which can also go by the acronym MOTS. MOTS products, even if they have to be modified, can also offer an economic and time-saving advantage since most of the programming code has already been written. The modification can be completed by the software manufacturer, a third party or the military, depending on the situation.
While there are a number of benefits to a standard military product, the idea also has its critics. Some say a commercial product may not meet the security requirements the military needs. Another criticism is that sometimes the product often requires a change in the way the military operates, causing cost increases, at least in the short term. However, overall, cost-benefit analyzes generally show that there is a net benefit to the military from using these products.
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