Safran unit picks Dassault tools for Australia engineering

Safran Electronics & Defence Australasia has selected Dassault Systèmes' ENOVIA and CATIA applications for its engineering work in Australia.

The deployment is intended to support the design and production of equipment for the country's aerospace, defence and space sectors.

SEDA will use the software through Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform to manage product data, configuration and engineering change across the product lifecycle. It will also use it for model-based systems engineering, from requirements capture to verification and validation in a single model.

The implementation covers product lifecycle management, detailed design and systems engineering in one environment, integrated with SEDA's existing engineering set-up.

The move comes as Australia places greater emphasis on sovereign industrial capability in defence. SEDA said the deployment supports its goal of designing and engineering equipment to Australian government requirements across land, sea, air and space programs.

That includes work for civil and military customers. From its Australian business, the company designs, develops and produces equipment and services across those domains.

Engineering focus

For SEDA, the software is intended to bring product data management and systems engineering into a more structured workflow. It will give engineering teams a single environment for managing configuration and change, while supporting collaboration and traceability.

The platform is also intended to help detect errors earlier in development and support compliance work tied to regulated defence programs. That is particularly relevant for projects in which design changes, systems requirements and verification steps must be tracked closely.

Dassault Systèmes said its applications were selected for product lifecycle management, computer-aided design and model-based systems engineering, as well as for a standards-compliant systems engineering environment and local aerospace and defence expertise.

SEDA linked the decision to its broader push to build engineering work around local requirements rather than adapt designs made elsewhere. It said this approach forms part of its effort to strengthen sovereign defence capability in Australia.

"Sovereign engineering capability is central to how we design and deliver equipment for Australia's defence needs. Deploying Dassault Systèmes' ENOVIA and CATIA applications strengthens our ability to manage complex product data and systems requirements with the rigour Australia's defence programs demand, as we build capability designed and engineered specifically for Australia," said Peter Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Safran Electronics & Defence Australasia.

Local capacity

The deployment also has implications for SEDA's local expansion. The company said the system positions it to support future sovereign capability programs for the Australian Department of Defence, with scope to increase workforce, programs and local production as its engineering operations grow.

The move also reflects a wider trend in the defence sector, where digital engineering tools are becoming more closely tied to domestic manufacturing and programme delivery. In practice, companies are under pressure to show that design authority, systems integration and production knowledge can be sustained locally.

For suppliers across aerospace, defence and space, software platforms that connect requirements, design and validation are becoming increasingly central to that effort. They can also provide a clearer record of how systems were developed and changed over time, a core issue in defence procurement and certification.

Dassault Systèmes said its work with SEDA reflects demand in Australia for more structured engineering processes aligned with national industrial priorities.

"SEDA is building engineering capability that meets the exacting standards of Australia's aerospace and defence sector. Our technology will support SEDA as it strengthens product lifecycle management and systems engineering disciplines, positioning it to contribute to Australia's sovereign capability ambitions well beyond this deployment," said Rashpal Singh, ANZ Consulting and Sales Director, Dassault Systèmes.