A Course on Software Architecture for Defense Applications

What is the role of a software architecture when building a large software system, for instance a command and control system for defense purposes? How it is created? How it is managed? In which way can we form software architects for this kind of systems? We describe an experience of designing and teaching several editions of a course on software architecture in the context of a large system integrator of defense mission-critical systems—ranging from air traffic control to vessel traffic control systems—namely SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a company of the Finmeccanica group. In the last few years, the company has been engaged in a comprehensive restructuring initiative for valorizing existing software assets and products and enhancing their productivity for software development. The course was intended as a baseline introduction to a School of Complex Software Systems for the many software engineers working in the company.