Alenia Aermacchi chooses Artisan Studio for new OMG SysML/UML software development methodology

Based in Italy, Alenia Aermacchi is a world leader in the design and production of training systems and aircraft for military pilots that meet the requirements of all training phases - primary, basic and lead-in fighter. Alenia Aermacchi’s military pilot trainers are used in over 40 countries worldwide. Alenia will use Artisan Studio to set the software requirements and implement the design, development and analysis for the Flight Control System on its next-generation M346 advanced and lead-in fighter trainer aircraft.

In order to further extend its reputation for excellence achieved during more than 90 years of operation, Alenia Aermacchi recently decided to improve its software development processes by switching to an OMG SysML/UML methodology. The company previously employed a Structured Analysis and Design (SA/SD) strategy.

Commenting on this move Fabio Magosso, the M346 FCS software development leader, said: “By adopting an OMG SysML/UML methodology we will be able to significantly speed up and optimize our software development process by providing a common language for both our software and systems engineers. We chose Artisan Studio as the preferred tool suite for our new OMG SysML/UML methodology as it was clearly the best product to fit our development needs and could also be smoothly incorporated into our pre-existing, overall software design environment which requires integration with a range of other third-party tools already in use.”

Alenia Aermacchi was especially impressed with Artisan Studio’s all-in-one environment enabling it to be deployed through the entire software development lifecycle from system requirements through to code development and even test using a single, shared, structured and traceable model. Its powerful, centralized data repository also relieves the company of the significant management overhead associated with multi-user access. With Alenia Aermacchi’s use of Spark fundamental to the company’s compliance with RTCA/DO-178D for Level A software, Artisan Studio’s ability to generate Spark-compliant code and be easily customized to add Spark annotations was also important. Alenia Aermacchi also attached significant value to Artisan Studio’s open architecture enabling the company to easily adapt it to meet future specific requirements of its software development environment as they arise.

“Alenia Aermacchi has not only chosen Artisan Studio as its preferred tool for its software development process in the flight control systems area” said James B Gambrell, President and CEO of Artisan Software Tools, “but has firmly bought into our vision that Artisan Studio delivers on the promise of an integrated application lifecycle environment, allowing systems and software engineering teams to work as one – from concept through to the delivery and maintenance of complex, mission critical systems.”