The Division of Warfare (DoW) is present process a big transformation in the way it acquires and develops software program techniques. Central to this evolution is the shift from conventional document-based processes to model-centric methodologies. On this context, researchers at Carnegie Mellon College Software program Engineering Institute (SEI) just lately analyzed the alignment of the DoW’s Software program Acquisition Pathway (SWP) with the Unified Structure Framework (UAF). The purpose of the research, as detailed on this weblog put up, is to operationalize model-based techniques engineering (MBSE) throughout the SWP utilizing UAF, which might improve traceability, decision-making, and compliance throughout the lifecycle.
The Want for a Mannequin-Centric Acquisition Technique
The federal authorities’s digital engineering technique, initiated in 2018 and strengthened by subsequent directives throughout army branches, emphasizes using digital fashions as the first technique of communication in engineering actions. The 2023 launch of DoDI 5000.97 formalized this shift, requiring applications initiated thereafter to include digital engineering capabilities.
Regardless of this coverage momentum, implementing MBSE throughout various acquisition applications stays difficult. These challenges current precious alternatives throughout the SWP. Whereas the coverage is designed to streamline software program acquisition, there’s thrilling potential to boost it additional by incorporating clearer steering on model-based techniques engineering (MBSE), particularly for embedded software program techniques that require excessive ranges of certification and assurance.
As a part of ongoing work to deal with these challenges, SEI researchers contributed as panelists on the twenty second Annual Acquisition Analysis Symposium hosted by the Naval Postgraduate Faculty. We additionally offered the paper Synergizing the Software program Acquisition Pathway (SWP) With the Unified Structure Framework (UAF) For Operationalization. On this put up, we’ll introduce the ideas offered within the paper together with an summary of the SWP, UAF, the SEI MBSynergy challenge, and stroll via an instance associated to growing a Functionality Wants Assertion for the SWP program utilizing UAF.
A Deal with the Software program Acquisition Pathway
The SWP offers a tailor-made acquisition route for software-intensive techniques. Extra particularly, the SWP offers software-intensive improvement applications with a streamlined path for growing and delivering software program functionality, emphasizing using trendy software program improvement strategies and instruments for delivering functionality quickly.
The SWP lifecycle is separated into two major phases:
- The Planning Section focuses on defining functionality wants, growing methods and roadmaps, establishing infrastructure, and designing system structure.
- The Execution Section entails software program improvement, testing, supply, and worth evaluation, with steady person engagement.
The pathway helps numerous software program varieties, together with embedded software program, which was the main focus of our research. Embedded software program, typically built-in into weapon techniques, requires heightened scrutiny for security, cybersecurity, and operational effectiveness, making it a really perfect candidate for MBSE software.
As of the time of this put up, there are applications using the Software program Acquisition Pathway throughout all main departments of the DoW and related providers and the utilization of this pathway is rising in significance. A March 6, 2025, memo, Directing Trendy Software program Acquisition to Maximize Lethality directs the DoW to undertake the Software program Acquisition Pathway as the popular pathway for all software program improvement applications.
Advantages of an UAF-Primarily based MBSE Method
The UAF, developed by the Object Administration Group (OMG), is a standardized modeling language that advanced from frameworks like DoDAF, MoDAF, and NATO’s NAF. It offers a complete set of 89 mannequin views organized by stakeholder viewpoints (e.g., operational, safety) and modeling elements (e.g., processes, parameters).
UAF’s structured semantics and extensibility make it well-suited for MBSE in complicated protection environments. Nevertheless, its breadth will be overwhelming for brand new customers. To handle this, the SEI research leverages the UAF Area Meta Mannequin (DMM) model 1.2 and the Enterprise Structure Information for UAF to create a focused, scenario-based method tailor-made to the SWP.
The mixing of UAF into the SWP gives a number of strategic benefits:
- enhanced traceability and digital threading. By structuring info in fashions, applications can set up strong digital threads that hyperlink necessities, design selections, and verification artifacts throughout the lifecycle.
- improved decision-making. Fashions allow early evaluation of tradeoffs, dangers, and high quality attributes, supporting extra knowledgeable and well timed selections.
- lowered documentation burden. Mannequin-based artifacts can substitute or increase conventional paperwork, streamlining compliance with statutory and regulatory necessities.
- higher consistency and reusability. A standardized modeling method fosters consistency throughout applications and facilitates reuse of architectural patterns and providers.
- alignment with coverage and technique. The method immediately helps DoDI 5000.97 and digital engineering methods from all army departments, positioning applications for long-term success.
Utilizing Situations to Inform Strategic Improvement
A cohesive, well-designed technique is required to tell a constant digital engineering method and allow info fashions to be value-added and extra absolutely built-in into the software program improvement course of. The SEI has developed a way for analyzing enterprise structure for the organizational worth of Digital Engineering and MBSE utilizing a scenario-based method.
The SEI’s MBSynergy challenge goals to equip DoW stakeholders with instruments and methodologies to judge the worth of MBSE. Drawing from the Structure Tradeoff Evaluation Technique (ATAM), the challenge introduces a scenario-based modeling method to outline and analyze enterprise actions.
Every situation is structured as an enter/output course of involving particular stakeholders, triggers, and measurable high quality attributes. This construction allows an in depth evaluation of how MBSE contributes to efficiency, modifiability, availability, and different architectural qualities.
For the SWP, the SEI recognized 25 eventualities throughout the planning and execution phases. These eventualities are grouped beneath seven enduring duties depicted within the determine under.
Determine 1: MBSynergy Situations of the Software program Acquisition Pathwy The determine is predicated on views from SEI’s “MBSynergy for Software program Acquisition Pathway” mannequin that was developed utilizing Cameo Enterprise Structure.
The core contribution of the research is the mapping of SWP actions to UAF views, remodeling document-based processes into structured, analyzable fashions. This mapping was facilitated by evaluating the knowledge necessities of SWP steering paperwork with the specs of UAF views.
Defining Software program Pathway Situations
One illustrative situation is the event of the Functionality Wants Assertion (CNS) doc, a foundational doc required as a part of initiating the execution. Historically captured in a static Phrase template, the Functionality Wants Assertion consists of sections on operational context, functionality wants, system structure, scope, methodologies, schedule, dangers, and useful resource planning. We selected the CNS because the featured situation as a result of it marks the primary artifact created beneath SWP processes, a foundational step that ensures steady traceability when embedded early in a digital mannequin all through the product lifecycle.
Within the model-based method, every part is translated into operational exercise actions, every producing particular UAF views. As an example, see Determine 2:
Determine 2: Operational Course of Move for Functionality Wants Assertion Definition. The determine is predicated on views from SEI’s “MBSynergy for Software program Acquisition Pathway” mannequin that was developed utilizing Cameo Enterprise Structure.
On this situation, 5 key areas had been translated into operational exercise actions, every producing a set of UAF views. There may be a further abstract and overview. These views had been then in comparison with the knowledge described within the template to test for alignment. The objective was to establish a minimal set of views that would meet the knowledge wants with out overwhelming mannequin architects and builders with too many specs.
Every operational exercise motion is supposed to be additional damaged down by particular person applications into detailed sub-activity course of flows. These flows assist make clear the precise roles and obligations of challenge personnel. The UAF view diagrams proven within the determine function examples to information how components needs to be modeled. Guaranteeing consistency and readability is a prime precedence for making the fashions usable throughout all SWP customers.
The mannequin views that seize these foundational components of the CNS will stay traceable all through planning and execution, supporting design, improvement, and worth assessments. This traceability strengthens the connection between early lifecycle info and what’s developed later, each inside a situation and throughout totally different eventualities.
To additional illustrate what this would possibly look in apply, the SEI is creating an instance Functionality Wants Assertion (CNS) utilizing UAF views to align its core parts in a model-based format. This instance will present how mannequin knowledge helps different eventualities, highlighting the advantages of improved traceability, reusability, and consistency in comparison with conventional document-based approaches.
Future Instructions and Collaboration Alternatives
The SEI’s research represents a contributing step towards realizing the DoW’s imaginative and prescient for digital engineering. By mapping the Software program Acquisition Pathway to the Unified Structure Framework via a scenario-based method, the research offers a sensible, scalable methodology for integrating MBSE into software program acquisition.
The SEI is actively looking for collaboration with DoW applications to pilot the UAF-based MBSE method and handle different areas of curiosity referring to using fashions as a part of the software program improvement lifecycle together with
- steady mannequin improvement alongside software program supply
- integration of AI and enormous language fashions (LLMs) for mannequin technology and evaluation
- embedding UAF knowledge into software program manufacturing facility pipelines for automated determination help
These initiatives purpose to additional operationalize digital engineering and show the tangible worth of MBSE in real-world acquisition contexts.
This model-centric technique not solely enhances compliance and traceability but in addition empowers applications to make higher selections, cut back threat, and ship higher-quality software program capabilities. Because the DoW continues to modernize its acquisition processes, the mixing of UAF and MBSE into the SWP gives a compelling blueprint for fulfillment.
The analysis was an output of the MBSynergy line challenge sponsored by the Workplace of the Below Secretary of Warfare for Analysis and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)).
