Digital: driving our performance

Digital DNA

Ever since the revolutionary advent of 3D modeling, we have been investing in digital innovations. This was the crucible that forged Dassault Systèmes, our long-standing partner. Our links with the world leader in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions provide us the expertise and methods needed to adapt these powerful technologies to our industrial activities. The new tools we are deploying also enhance our ability to look ahead and take a comprehensive view — from design through production, and right down to support and the user experience.

The Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated the adaptability and responsiveness of our teams, which have provided business continuity in an unprecedented situation involving large-scale telecommuting.

A sovereign information system

We are investing in a sovereign and high-performance information system. As an architect of aeronautical solutions working in partnership with our industrial partners and our government customers, we are building the collaborative combat systems of the future.

3DExperience platform

In May 2018, we signed a long-term agreement with Dassault Systèmes, paving the way for the 3DExperience platform to replace all PLM solutions for our civil and military aircraft programs. The development of the Future Falcon and new combat aircraft is being carried out against this backdrop. This is a truly pivotal choice, one designed to improve the overall efficiency of our product lifecycle management by eventually setting up a single platform for all programs.

Collaborative system engineering

By collaborative system engineering, we mean using a shared digital model to coordinate everybody involved in the development of large airborne systems.

Implemented as part of the ATL2 modernization project, this method is currently being applied as part of the NGF collaborative project and is being extended to our new programs. The system digital model allows security and data sovereignty considerations to be incorporated very early in the process. Dassault Aviation is also connected to the secure platforms used by the French defense procurement agency DGA and its partners, providing greater scope for joint development work.

Analysis, decision-making and big data

We make use of big data in all our programs. It enables the deployment of management, analysis and decision-making tools, based on strictly controlled and sovereign shared data.

In 2020, to develop the Artificial Intelligence algorithms required for big data, we launched both an “AI Challenge for Industry” (in partnership with the Greater Paris Region) and specifically aeronautics-related research (as part of our Data Science Lab collaboration with Dassault Systèmes).