PYRAMID Technical Standard and Guidance
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-31)

Technical documentation and guidance for PYRAMID, a re-usable and open avionics system reference architecture developed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

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.

A key goal of the PYRAMID programme is to maximise adoption on both a national and international level. To achieve this, the PYRAMID Technical Standard and Guidance documentation has been produced for use by system integrators and component suppliers across industry, and government staff responsible for the acquisition of PYRAMID-compliant products.

Find out more about the PYRAMID programme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pyramid-rapid-adaptability-for-avionics-systems) including how to request support.

PYRAMID Model for Exploiters

This model was developed using MBSE techniques using the PTC Integrity Modeler toolset. Request this, along with HTML and XMI exports, by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

March 2025 changes

The PYRAMID documentation has been restructured to help meet the requirements for PYRAMID to become a UK Defence Standard in future.

PYRAMID Technical Standard V1.0

Defines the PYRAMID Reference Architecture (PRA) (comprising components only) and provides rules for achieving compliance with the PYRAMID Technical Standard.

PYRAMID Technical Standard Guidance V1.0

Provides guidance on how to understand and apply the PYRAMID Technical Standard, including associated reference material, such as examples of use. Key sections within the guidance are:
- PYRAMID Concepts (previously PYRAMID Policies) – provides a range of concepts that have been considered in the development of the PRA and that relate to the exploitation of the PRA.
- Interaction Views – illustrate how a set of components could be integrated to achieve the system behaviour described by a particular scenario.
- Deployment Guide - provides guidance to engineers on what to consider when developing a PYRAMID based system and how this may compare to more traditional development processes.
- Compliance Guide - discusses the goal of compliance and provides supporting guidance material in relation to the compliance rules, including how compliance with the rules might be achieved, demonstrated and assessed.
Change documentation

Changes made to the PYRAMID Documentation since the previous release (PYRAMID Exploiter’s Pack V4.1) are detailed in:
- PYRAMID Technical Standard V1.0 Version Description Document Issue 1.0 – focuses on the PYRAMID compliance rules, PRA component composition, and PRA component set, as well as an overview on the restructure of the PYRAMID documentation.
- PYRAMID Technical Standard Guidance V1.0 Version Description Document Issue 1.0 – focuses on the PYRAMID Concepts and PYRAMID Interaction Views, which were previously part of the PRA, as well as an overview of the restructure of the PYRAMID documentation.
You can still access older versions of PYRAMID documentation (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20250312164312/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pyramid) previously available on this page.