What is a Military Off-the-Shelf Product?
A military off-the-shelf product (MOTS) is a software product that is usually available not just to the military, but to the public at large. In most cases, it is available commercially, which is why it is sometimes called a commercial off-the-shelf product (COTS). Military off-the-shelf products have been heavily emphasized in the U.S. military since the mid 1990s. Defense administrators say there are many benefits to a military off-the-shelf product. The main advantages are the savings in cost and time. If there is a suitable commercial program the military can use, it can often be obtained at a lower cost than writing a new program. Also, because most commercial programs have been thoroughly tested, there are fewer bugs that will cause problems and fewer major updates. Additionally, because the product is already on the market, there is no delay in obtaining and using it. While a military off-the-shelf product can produce some benefits, there are also challenges. In many cases, comm
