PYRAMID
Find out all about the PYRAMID programme, which provides a defined open system architecture and enabling data ecosystem.
Documents
Details
Caption: PYRAMID aims to achieve technology advantage through rapid adaptability for current and future air platforms by adopting an open systems architecture approach.
Contents
PYRAMID Programme
The United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MOD) has recognised that mission systems software is becoming ever more complex and expensive to develop.
Technological advances mean software must be rapidly adapted to respond to evolving threats and capability needs. The UK MOD has developed a reusable and open air system reference architecture; applicable for both legacy and future air platforms. Known as PYRAMID, this approach will make upgrades more rapid and reduce software maintenance costs.
The PYRAMID programme introduces a paradigm shift to the current method of avionic systems design and maintenance. PYRAMID aims to make legacy and future air mission systems affordable, capable, and adaptable by adoption of an open systems architecture approach and systematic software re-use.
The focus of the programme has been to develop the core PYRAMID Reference Architecture (PRA). Previously, mission systems software was bespoke to each air platform and was not designed to be compatible with the wider platform portfolio. PYRAMID aims to break this mould, allowing each software component to be compatible with other platforms that have adopted the PRA. PYRAMID is anticipated to lead to significant benefits for both the UK and our allies, including:
- rapid adaptability and capability evolution;
- increased potential for re-use of software artefacts;
- decreased integration times of new capabilities;
- reduced impact of obsolescence;
- reduced avionics and mission system maintenance costs.
Reflecting this huge potential, the UK MOD has made a significant investment in PYRAMID. Sponsored by the Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) within Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Command, PYRAMID is a key element of the UK Combat Air Strategy. The 2023 Defence Command Paper also recognises the importance of the adoption of Open Systems and PYRAMID. Defence Command Paper 2023: Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world
The emphasis has been placed on PYRAMID to realise several Key User Requirements (KURs), consolidated in a Single Statement of User Need (SSUN):
” … to enable delivery and maintenance of Technology Advantage, the user requires a core mission system that is: Resilient against Obsolescence; Scalable; Exploitable; Flight Certifiable; Security Accreditable; Configurable; provides Utility across a range of mission requirements; and incorporates Future Growth potential.”
Caption: The aim and objectives of PYRAMID are centred around the achievement of several Key User Requirements.
PYRAMID Vision
Once the KURs were established, a vision was developed for the programme to achieve the long-term aspirations. This was broken down into four distinct areas: Adoption, Governance, Marketing & Promotions, Skills and their attributes (see below). The PYRAMID Vision also provides a focus for the PYRAMID Programme Delivery, some of which are detailed below.
Caption: A vision for the future of PYRAMID.
PYRAMID Delivery
PYRAMID was developed using Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) principles. The PRA components comprise roles, responsibilities, and well-defined interfaces with rules to build mission system deployments. Components within the architecture can be used to support a range of mission types for legacy and future platforms.
The PYRAMID documentation, known as the ‘PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack’, can be found at the links below and provides all the information required when developing PYRAMID-based systems.
Alongside the PRA, the programme has de-risked the technical solution through the development and demonstration of PYRAMID-compliant architectures and software components. The programme used the expertise and experience of more than 200 system and software engineers; and, although led by BAE Systems, the team has included specialists from across the UK’s avionics industry.
Caption: PRA Component Set and Super Domains.
Exploitation and the PYRAMID Industry Advisory Group (IAG)
Delivering the benefits of PYRAMID requires effective exploitation across national and international acquisition programmes. The UK MOD are supporting this through the provision of training, targeted briefings and engineering support. There are an increasing number of organisations that have conducted the PYRAMID training and are developing PYRAMID compliant software within their systems.
UK industry established the PYRAMID Industry Advisory Group (IAG) to work together as an exploitation community, to discuss developments, and provide a single source of feedback to the UK MOD. If you are interested in joining this forum, please get in touch with us via the ‘contact us’ section at the bottom of the page.
International Alignment
International alignment is also being conducted with the United States (US) Army and US Navy through the Collaborative Open Systems Architecture (COSA) Project Arrangement, and across NATO through the Framework for Open Mission Systems (FAMOS). These activities aim to ensure compatibility between the Open System Architecture approaches being developed by our partners.
CESTIUS
The CESTIUS project was established to provide validation by testing the openness and usability of PYRAMID. The contract was awarded to GDUK, who used the PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack to develop a component which was then integrated into the BAE Systems PYRAMID demonstrator. This provided an evaluation of the technical approach with GDUK acting as a component supplier and BAE Systems the system integrator. Following the success of this phase, GDUK used PYRAMID to re-engineer their Stores Management System. This validation exercise has given the UK MOD and industry further assurance that the PRA is mature and ready to be adopted.
PYRAMID Documentation
A key goal of the PYRAMID programme is to maximise adoption on both a national and international level. To achieve this, the PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack has been produced for use by system integrators and component suppliers across industry; and government staff responsible for the acquisition of PYRAMID-compliant products. The PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack main document introduces and defines the scope of PYRAMID and includes several Annexes:
- PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack Annex A : PRA Description Document - The PRA Description Document details the scope of the architecture, the component specifications, and the policies of the architecture.
- PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack Annex B: Deployment Guide - The Deployment Guide describes platform-independent and platform-specific system and component design, including guidance on logical architecting, component specifications, bridges, and counterparts.
- PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack Annex C: Compliance Guide - The Compliance Guide provides instructions on achieving PYRAMID compliance on a component level and on a deployment level; including methods and templates for reporting compliance.
- PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack Annex D: Glossary - The Glossary establishes definitions for terms used within the Exploiter’s Pack.
- Model - This was developed using MBSE techniques using the PTC Integrity Modeler (now Windchill Modeller) toolset. This model is also available with the PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack along with HTML and XMI exports. For access please get in touch with us via the ‘contact us’ section at the bottom of the page.
Support for adoption
The PYRAMID programme also offers a query service to aid adoption. Known as the PYRAMID Query Management Service, it provides a process for prospective exploiters, adopting programmes, and other stakeholders to raise queries and submit requests for support. This includes access to PYRAMID training.
Contact Us
If you are interested in learning more about the programme or would like to submit a query, please use the email address below to get in touch.
PYRAMID Mailbox: PYRAMID@mod.gov.uk
Last updated 2 November 2023 + show all updates
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Updated information under PYRAMID delivery and documentation.
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First published.