AMC signs Dassault software deal for defence programme

Australian Missile Corporation has signed a contract with Dassault Systèmes to deploy engineering software for work linked to Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance program. The deal covers applications for mission engineering, requirements engineering, and systems engineering.

AMC plans to use CATIA and SOLIDWORKS on Dassault's 3DEXPERIENCE platform across the engineering lifecycle of its guided weapons-related programs. The software will define and manage mission and system requirements, support systems-level design and validation, and maintain traceability through development.

The agreement brings Dassault's model-based systems engineering tools into AMC's existing engineering environment as the Australian-owned defence company works with the GWEO Group and other partners on domestic manufacturing. A secure on-premise setup is intended to meet defence security requirements and keep sensitive program data under local control.

Australia has committed up to AUD $21 billion over the decade to the GWEO Enterprise as it seeks to expand domestic production of guided weapons and explosive ordnance. The program has become a central part of Canberra's push to strengthen self-reliance in defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on overseas supply chains.

AMC is one of the industry participants supporting that effort. Its role is to help establish a sovereign manufacturing base for guided weapons and explosive ordnance for the Australian Defence Force, alongside larger defence contractors and local industrial partners.

Engineering shift

Model-based systems engineering is becoming more widely used in aerospace and defence as contractors manage programs with large numbers of technical requirements, suppliers, and compliance demands. Rather than relying mainly on document-based processes, the approach uses digital models to connect requirements, design decisions, testing, and validation.

For companies working on complex weapons systems, this can help track changes across a program and identify design issues earlier in development. It also provides a clearer audit trail for defence customers that want visibility into how specifications are set, tested, and met.

At AMC, the deployment is intended to support work from initial mission and system requirements through later-stage engineering activity. Dassault said the software would complement systems already used by the company rather than replace its entire engineering environment.

The move also reflects a broader shift in defence procurement toward digital engineering disciplines. Governments and contractors increasingly want a higher level of design maturity before committing to production contracts, in an effort to limit cost overruns and reduce program risk.

Strategic backdrop

The contract comes as Australia faces pressure to build more of its defence equipment at home amid a more contested regional security environment. Policymakers have placed greater emphasis on industrial resilience, local manufacturing depth, and the ability to sustain critical weapons programs without heavy reliance on foreign production.

That policy setting has created openings for domestic suppliers such as AMC, particularly in areas where Canberra wants local assembly, integration, and engineering skills to sit alongside imported technology or strategic partnerships. Guided weapons have become one of the most closely watched parts of that effort because they sit at the intersection of deterrence policy, industrial strategy, and supply chain security.

Digital engineering tools have also taken on added importance as defence planners look for faster iteration cycles in weapons development. Recent conflicts have sharpened attention on how quickly systems must adapt to changing operational demands, electronic warfare threats, and production pressures.

AMC Chief Executive Officer Matt Gibson said the company viewed the software as part of building enduring engineering capacity. "As part of Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, we are focused on building robust, sovereign engineering capability to support the nation's long-term defence needs," Gibson said.

"The adoption of Dassault Systèmes' model-based engineering applications enhances our ability to manage complex system and mission requirements, improve engineering discipline, and ensure traceability across the development lifecycle of critical defence programs. This supports our role in strengthening Australia's domestic guided weapons manufacturing capability."

Dassault said its experience in aerospace and defence, and its ability to operate in secure environments, were factors in the selection. The French software group has long supplied design and engineering tools to manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors, and has sought to deepen its role in defence programs that require controlled data environments.

For Dassault, the AMC contract adds to its work in a market where national governments are investing more heavily in local defence production. For AMC, the immediate task is to integrate the software into active programs tied to the GWEO Enterprise while maintaining the security, compliance, and engineering discipline required for sensitive defence work.

"AMC is building engineering capability for a domain that demands security and precision. We are committed to supporting AMC as they deliver on Australia's sovereign defence manufacturing ambitions. Together with AMC, we look forward to shaping the future of Australia's GWEO Enterprise," said Rashpal Singh, ANZ Consulting and Sales Director, Dassault Systèmes.