DULLES, Va., - To help military and government agencies keep pace with rapidly evolving threats, Raytheon Company 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.
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. Its 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.
Raytheon plans to build new foundries around the country, both in existing company locations and new ones.
