The Software Development Needs of the Defense Industry in Uncertain Times
Tech Soft 3D • The evolving political and security landscape is presenting software developers working in the defense sector with unique challenges and opportunities. In Europe specifically, there is an explosion in demand driven by the current political climate. While many focus on hardware, software and tech represent a significant, rapidly growing market. From 2021 to 2024, McKinsey reports the investment in defense tech startups has grown 500%.
We want to take the time to highlight some of the key needs of software developers in these spaces, demonstrate how software development toolkits (SDKs) can support these demands, and explain why Tech Soft 3D is a strong potential partner in this industry. Tech Soft 3D has decades of experience working with developers across a wide range of industries, including those developing applications for use in defense. As we are limited in our ability to share experience with specific partners (defense organizations will understand why), here are some general and specific needs for this industry and how Tech Soft 3D can support them.
High-Performance Tools with Decades of Experience
The defense space is naturally cautious and slow to trust. The best partners for these organizations can point to years of experience working with reputable companies. The tools they leverage must be capable of reading, viewing, processing and handling huge amounts of data and complex information from many sources.
A Customized Development Experience
Defense organizations know damn well they are unique and expect a developer experience that matches that. This includes customizable support, flexible deployment options, and a tailored partnership that isn’t afraid to adapt to their challenges.
Getting the Most Out of CAD Data
Defense projects often involve multiple CAD systems and/or formats, presenting unique challenges in data exchange, preservation of information, and efficient usage of the data present in CAD files. CAD data translation capabilities are often impractical to develop in-house, particularly with high performance demands and a need to support a wide array of formats.
File size and complexity is a demand where the defense industry presents unique challenges. Their projects often require both speed and accuracy of huge files, far bigger than those present in other industries.
Additionally, defense organizations are looking to use the information in CAD data throughout more of the design process, including predictive patience, simulations, analysis, and more. Doing so requires better preservation of metadata, including support for product manufacturing information (PMI), model trees, assembly structures, material properties, persistent IDs, configurations, and feature trees.
There are a number of strong options to be aware of, each with relative strengths and weaknesses. HOOPS Exchange offers rapid data translation for 30+ formats, with built-in integrations with visualization tools, Siemens Parasolid, the leading solid modeling kernel for CAD/CAM, and more. You can see a detailed breakdown several of data translation SDKs below.
Support for Both Online and Offline Application Development
As we touched on when discussing general demands, defense companies expect flexibility in deployment options for their software. With the independent nature of organizations working in defense spaces, many developers need to support both online and offline functionality in their applications. This includes on-premises, private cloud, and hybrid environments. Once again, these applications retain the high-performance demands we have mentioned, no matter how they are deployed.
For visualization needs, HOOPS Communicator offers its users 3D web visualization. It offers unparalleled support for the types of complex, large models common in the defense industry.
For desktop and mobile applications, HOOPS Visualize provides the leading 3D graphics behind hundreds of engineering applications, including Hexagon®, Trimble®, Ansys®, SOLIDWORKS™, Autodesk®, and many more.
CEETRON Envision provides an all-in-one toolkit for CAE data import, analysis, visualization, reporting, and automation. Best of all for this section, it offers versions that support both desktop and web-native applications. For those looking to license multiple toolkits at once, HOOPS Native Platform and HOOPS Web Platform provide options for all use cases.
Design Optimization, Simulation, and Generative Design
Unsurprisingly, defense use cases have strict demands on optimization, stress testing, and the use of simulation throughout the design process. These areas see constant innovation, creating high expectations for developers looking to create applications for these areas.
One key tool in design optimization that is only growing in relevance in recent years is generative design. This innovative workflow differs from traditional engineering by closely integrating constraint algorithms with simulation testing to allow engineers to explore far more designs than normally feasible. While commonly conflated with generative artificial intelligence tools, these tools are beginning to leverage AI and have huge potential in the future.
The applications for this in the defense industry, particularly in aerospace, are significant, ensuring parts are as lightweight and as material efficient as possible. If you are interested in exploring more about generative design, what it can do for you, and how Tech Soft 3D can support this process, we have an entire eBook ready for you, along with a shorter blog post.
More broadly, simulation tools and CAE are other areas of unique demand for the defense sector. Developing these applications in-house is extremely challenging, with specialized developers often requiring a Ph.D.-level education to develop the functionality that meets the demands of the industry.
Tech Soft offers its CEETRON family of products to support these needs, from CAE data access. With toolkits for meshing and solvers, CAE and CAD data access that boast strong integrations with Polygonica, the previously mentioned CEETRON Envision, and plenty of experience in the space, we are uniquely positioned to support defense organizations' CAE needs.
Digital Twins, Shipbuilding, Additive Manufacturing, and Other Related Topics
The defense industry is not a monolith – they leverage a wide range of manufacturing, engineering, and simulation tools. Here, we want to highlight just a few of the areas where we provide toolkits and experience that might be relevant to defense organizations.
Digital twins offer defense and manufacturing teams ways to get more complex, complete data they can intelligently leverage for a wide range of benefits. This can include visualization and analysis, simulation, real-time monitoring, maintenance, and more.
Shipbuilding is a unique industry, presenting challenges to developers in both commercial and defense organizations. We encourage you to explore our partnership with NAPA for an example of how we have served those working in this market.
Additive manufacturing offers unique opportunities for custom fabrication, prototyping, and manufacturing. Aerospace, an industry with plenty of overlap with defense, commonly takes advantage of what AM has to offer.
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Tailored Support for the Unique Needs of the Defense Industry
While the other demands we have covered are crucial, perhaps the biggest need of defense organizations is to work with companies that can adjust to meet their demands. Every company in the defense space is different, with a dynamic set of unique circumstances they need their toolkit suppliers to adapt to.
This is where Tech Soft 3D shines the brightest. With over 25 years of experience providing toolkits with developer-to-developer support across the world, we offer the balance of flexibility and experience you need. Our focus on Strategic Technology Partnerships allows spend the time needed to learn exactly what you need to support your key objectives. The best way to start this process is by letting us get to know you. Contact us to learn more.
