Modernizing the Defense Industry: Top 5 Critical Enablers of Digitization and Success

The defense industry is at a crossroads in the current era of competing priorities. Nations desire peace and the opportunity to excel in a world of complex geo-political theater while also needing to balance social investment with investments in new, more affordable, and capable defense platforms versus maintaining and sustaining existing defense assets. This complex challenge requires purpose-driven innovation and critical thinking to strike the right balance. The Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides the capabilities to achieve these vital objectives through sustainable innovation and harmonizing nature, product, and life. 

Top 5 Critical Enablers of Digitization and Success in the Defense Industry: 

1. Modeling the Mission: A Critical Enabler of Modernizing the Defense Industry 

Modeling is a critical factor in modernizing the defense industry. Through digital mission engineering, every aspect of the task can be modeled and simulated from start to finish. This provides a comprehensive framework for simulation lifecycle management, which encourages collaboration among all stakeholders and actors at each program stage. This modeling is essential not only for new systems but also for ageing ones. It allows these systems’ reverse engineering to extend their life and usefulness for future missions through virtual twin experiences. 

2. Robust Mission Engineering and Multidisciplinary Simulation 

By engaging in intentional communication and collaboration, strong mission engineering facilitates the creation of multidisciplinary simulations for all aspects of the proposed system. These simulation capabilities allow teams to explore significantly more trade space alternatives in a shorter period while simultaneously confidently identifying the most promising capabilities, technologies, and operational options. As the system matures in design, the virtual and minimal physical testing validates its ability to meet the mission requirements. 

3. Developing a Modular System of System Architecture for a New Program 

The capacity to simulate manufacturing and supply chain processes while effectively managing cost, schedule, and technical risks is critical for successfully implementing a program for operation and sustainment. This capability also enables the creation of a modular system architecture system for new programs, which promotes innovation and integration of future and existing assets within a shared reference framework. 

4. Ensuring Mission Success through Resilient Systems and the Virtual Twin Experience 

Achieving the appropriate level of mission performance depends not only on the design and production of the system but also on its operations and support throughout its lifespan. Robust, resilient systems enabled by artificial intelligence, predictive data analytics, and various sensor capabilities can proactively enhance fleet readiness. The virtual twin experience offered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform bridges the divide between the physical and virtual worlds, guaranteeing mission success. 

5. Lowering Operations Costs and Integrating Future and Existing Assets 

The present-day threats necessitate sophisticated defense systems in the future and increased collaboration among different defense actors. However, the budget for innovation required to develop these complex systems is competing directly with the mounting cost of sustaining the current assets in operations. Fortunately, by employing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and defense forces can reduce operational costs and establish a modular system architecture system for new programs. This approach allows for the innovation and integration of future and existing assets. 

How can Defense Organizations look to leverage these enablers and accelerate their digitization journey? 

1. Modeling the Mission: 

Defense organizations recognize the importance of Modeling the Mission by employing advanced tools such as 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA, and implementing a Model Based systems Engineering (MBSE) approach to create detailed digital mission engineering frameworks.  

These frameworks facilitate collaboration among all stakeholders and actors at each program stage, streamlining simulation lifecycle management for improved decision-making. Implementing this modeling approach benefits the development and integration of new systems. It revitalizes aging systems by employing reverse engineering and virtual twin experiences to extend their service life and usefulness. As a result, defense organizations are better equipped to adapt and respond to the evolving demands of future missions. 

2. Leveraging Mission Engineering & Multidisciplinary Simulation: 

Defense organizations increasingly leverage Mission Engineering & Multidisciplinary Simulation by utilizing Mission Modeling and Simulation software on the powerful 3DEXPERIENCE platform, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes intentional team communication. This innovative approach enables the creation of comprehensive, multidisciplinary simulations for every aspect of a proposed system, allowing teams to efficiently explore a broad range of trade space alternatives in a shorter time frame. By confidently identifying the most promising capabilities, technologies, and operational options, defense organizations can optimize system design to meet mission requirements better. As the system design matures, virtual and minimal physical testing further validates its ability to fulfill mission objectives, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. 

3. Implementing Modular System of System Architecture: 

Adopting modular system and system architecture approaches by utilizing System of Systems Architecture, an industry-leading modeling solution within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can be crucial for defense organizations. This enables the simulation of manufacturing and supply chain processes, effectively managing costs, edules and technical risks, which are crucial for successful program implementation, operations, and sustainment.  

By leveraging a systems of systems architecture approach, you can promote innovation by facilitating the creation of modular system architectures for new programs, allowing the seamless integration of future and existing assets within a shared reference framework. By implementing such advanced modeling solutions, defense organizations can better adapt to evolving mission requirements and enhance overall system performance and efficiency.  

4. Driving Resilient Systems with Virtual Twin Technology: 

Defense organizations are increasingly turning to virtual twin technology to strengthen their systems by integrating Digital Twin capabilities with Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) methodologies. This comprehensive approach helps to enhance mission performance across all stages of the system’s life cycle, from initial design and production to ongoing operations and support. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, predictive data analytics, and advanced senior capabilities, defense organizations can proactively monitor and improve fleet readiness, ensuring that their systems remain robust and resilient in the face of evolving threats and challenges. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform, with its innovative virtual twin experience, plays a critical role in bridging the gap between the physical and virtual worlds, providing a powerful tool that enables defense organizations to simulate and optimize system performance, ultimately guaranteeing mission success and improved overall efficiency. 

5. Ensuring Efficient Operations: 

Dassault Systems Delmia Apriso provides defense organizations with a comprehensive manufacturing operations management (MOM) system to optimize production processes and ensure efficient operations. With DELMIA Apriso, defense organizations can track and manage assets, personnel, and resources to streamline operations and reduce costs. The platform’s real-time visibility and control capabilities enable defense organizations to quickly adapt to changing operational requirements and make data-driven decisions. By leveraging Delmia Apriso, defense organizations can improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance the overall readiness of their assets. 

The Key to Success: The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform – A Comprehensive Solution for Defense Industry 

The defense industry can benefit immensely from the comprehensive cradle-to-grave virtual twin experience technology provided by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Today’s platform is the only genuinely integrated, open, model-based data environment.  

By using the platform, the defense industry can achieve sustainable innovation while harmonizing nature, products, and life. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform encourages purpose-driven innovation and critical thinking to balance investing in new, affordable, capable defense platforms and maintaining and sustaining existing defense assets. The platform’s particular capabilities facilitate a reduction in costs and risks, enhance production efficiency, and optimize performance across the acquisition lifecycle. These capabilities empower the defense industry to modernize and sustain and maintain existing assets. 

3DEXPERIENCE Platform with TriMech Enterprise Solutions  

Our TriMech Enterprise Solutions team is experienced with implementing the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, which can be installed as an in-house or cloud-based solution for globally dispersed enterprises. 

To learn more about how the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is elevating tire engineering read our E-Book (hyperlink)