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A Reference Architecture (RA) is defined as a set of goals:

• Provide common language for the various stakeholders
• Provide consistency of implementation of technology to solve problems
• Support the validation and comparison of implementations
• Encourage adherence to common standards, specifications, and patterns

Source: G. Doyle and B. Wilezynski, “Reference Architecture Description,” U. S. DoD, Washington, DC, 2010., Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (OASD/NII) Reference Architecture Description