Figure 1. Layered Framework: ARA → GRA → CRA
vice performs a single, well-defined function, enabling independent de - velopment, deployment, scaling, and technology selection. This approach delivers greater agility, resilience, and development efficiency, forming a common archi - tectural foundation. Programs can “shop” at the ARA level to select fea - tures and functions, upgrade, deploy, and scale capabilities without affect - ing the wider system. Decentralized governance empowers the acquisi - tion workforce to choose the most suitable technology stack—including software, versions, and applications— for each specific program.
ACQUISITION REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE (ARA) Enterprise-wide common denominators Unclassified reusable assets Microservices, standards, reusable libraries
GOVERNMENT REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE (GRA) Service-specific instantiations (Army, Navy, Air Force) Inherit from ARA Classified/Unclassified components
CONTRACTOR REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE (CRA) Industry implementation layer Conforms to GRAs (and ARA)
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SEPTEMBER –OCTOBER 2026 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE 17
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