Rheinmetall has open-sourced the onboardapi interface library and middleware, a key component of its Battlesuite connected weapon system. According to the documentation, the library is designed to enable seamless communication between sensor systems and software components across complex military hardware and software environments.
The onboardapi utilizes the Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard developed by the Object Management Group (OMG). According to Rheinmetall’s documentation, this data-centric publish-subscribe architecture is built to guarantee reliable, low-latency data exchange for high-demand applications—a requirement for real-time weapon system coordination.
The library is constructed on the ddkit software development kit and employs DDS XTypes and XCDR2 encoding standards. According to the documentation, this technical approach ensures full backward compatibility, allowing different versions of software to coexist and communicate seamlessly even as the underlying data model evolves. This compatibility feature is significant for military systems that must maintain operational continuity across hardware updates and software iterations.
Rheinmetall provides the core library in C++, but the API supports multi-language integration through wrappers for Java, C# / .NET, and Python. This broad language support enables developers across different technical backgrounds to integrate with the weapon system communication framework.
The release appears to reflect a shift toward standardized, interoperable military technology architecture. By open-sourcing the onboardapi, Rheinmetall is making the communication protocol publicly available, potentially enabling wider adoption of DDS-based standards in defense applications and allowing external developers to build compatible systems.
The move comes amid broader industry trends toward modular, network-centric warfare capabilities that rely on standardized data exchange between distributed sensor networks, fire control systems, and command infrastructure. The onboardapi documentation indicates version 9.10.0 is currently available.
Key facts
- Rheinmetall has open-sourced the onboardapi library used in its Battlesuite weapon system
- The library uses the Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard by the Object Management Group for reliable, low-latency communication
- The system supports backward compatibility, allowing different software versions to operate simultaneously
- The core library is written in C++ with wrappers available for Java, C# / .NET, and Python