Catalina Aircraft Company announced today that it has adopted the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) across the avionics and mission-systems architecture of its clean-sheet Catalina SPAR program, aligning its FAA Part 25 transport category amphibious aircraft platform with the acquisition strategy required of major defence systems by the U.S. Department of Defense.
MOSA requires major defence platforms to use modular designs, clearly defined major system interfaces, and widely supported, consensus-based open standards across five pillars: an enabling environment, modular design, designated interfaces, consensus-based open standards, and certified conformance. Applying that framework to the Catalina SPAR, the airframe functions as the Major System Platform, while mission systems, sensor payloads, and avionics — including the company’s BlueDeck HUD suite — are being architected as Major System Components integrated through clearly documented, standards-based Modular System Interfaces rather than proprietary connections.
The engineering team is aligning avionics software with the FACE (Future Airborne Capability Environment) Technical Standard and evaluating SOSA and HOST open architectures for sensor and embedded-computing payloads. The approach is designed to let mission systems and payload configurations be upgraded or replaced independently of the certified airframe, reducing integration risk and avoiding unnecessary regression testing or recertification as the platform evolves.
“Adopting MOSA is a statement of intent,” said Benjamin Folger, CEO at Catalina Aircraft Company. “The Catalina SPAR is engineered so mission systems and payload interfaces evolve independently of the airframe — exactly what the Department of Defense/War is asking industry to deliver.”
Across the world, governments, commercial operators, and emergency-response organisations are facing more complex access challenges. Coastal communities, island nations, remote regions, disaster-affected areas, and maritime operating zones require aviation platforms that can move people, supplies, equipment, and mission systems without depending on traditional airfield infrastructure.
Committing to open, non-proprietary interfaces also supports the Catalina SPAR’s multi-mission design philosophy, allowing sensor packages, mission systems, and payload configurations to evolve independently of the airframe as new operator requirements emerge, rather than requiring a new baseline design for each mission variant.
The Catalina SPAR is designed as a multi-mission system rather than a single-purpose aircraft. A platform configured for aerial firefighting can be repositioned for transport, patrol, humanitarian support, or search and rescue during off-season periods, reducing the need for multiple specialised fleets. This adaptability is central to Catalina Aircraft Company’s approach to serving civil, commercial, and government operators worldwide.
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