For the Warrior concept as documented in Joint Pub. Applicability DoD Directive 4630.5 directs that all C4I systems shall be considered joint, unless specifically exempted. System integrators shall use it to facilitate the integration of existing a nd new systems. Mandatory standards shall be implemented by systems that have a need for the corresponding interoperability-related services. A standard is mandatory in the sense that if a service is going to be implemented, it shall be implemented in accordance with the associated standard.
Many standards have optional parts, or parameters that can affect interoperability.
In those cases a com mercial standard may be further modified by a standard profile to ensure proper operation. There is strong economic justifications that absence of a mandated standard will result in duplicative and wasteful life-cycle costs. They are technically mature and stable. They are technically implementable. They are publicly available.