To help military and government agencies keep pace with rapidly evolving threats, Waltham, MA-based Raytheon Company announced on August 5 that it has developed a virtual software factory — a mix of physical coding spaces, cloud-based tools and software experts — to quickly deliver new capabilities to the military.
“In a world where threats
evolve fast, software must evolve faster,” said Todd Probert, vice
president for Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. “The
average consumer can expect to get new apps every day; why can’t soldiers
expect the same?”
Historically, government agencies
— particularly the military — would develop software the same way they
developed hardware, a process that could take years and sometimes decades. But,
military leaders are asking industry to change how they develop software, by
taking a page from the consumer technology world.
Raytheon is doing just
that. Raytheon’s virtual software factory provides engineers with
automated tools, services and standards, kick-starting the adoption of modern
software development methods like Agile and DevOps across the company’s programs.
These tools include what the
company is calling a “pipeline-in-a-box,” a cloud-based toolset that
automates all the steps in the software delivery process. It can start
integrating code, run automated tests, check for cyber vulnerabilities and deploy
software to production. Because it is virtual, the toolset can easily be used
at any of the company’s facilities without special equipment or new
construction.
The company is also building
training rooms, called dojos, in many of its facilities to maximize collaboration.
The first, in Raytheon’s Cityline facility outside Dallas, is
dedicated to speeding development of some of the company’s space
programs. Raytheon’s Aurora, Colorado, facility
outside Denver also has a dojo for local programs.
Expanding on the dojo concept, the company has started developing more advanced coding hubs called foundries. The first is being built in Raytheon’s Indianapolis factory.
“Our
Indianapolis foundry will feature a modern coding space, with
paired-programming stations, game areas and small huddle rooms,”
said Dave Broadbent, Raytheon IIS vice president for contracts and supply
chain. “It’s not what people might expect from a traditional defense
contractor, but this facility and the ones that will follow are going to help
us recruit and retain the best software talent.”
Raytheon plans
to build new foundries around the country, both in existing company locations
and new ones.
“Our customers expect us to deliver capabilities faster than ever before,” said John DeSimone, Raytheon IIS vice president for Cybersecurity and Special Missions. “Our virtual software factory is what’s allowing us to do that.”
Source: Raytheon
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