Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification, and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phases[^c1]. It represents a paradigm shift from document-centric systems engineering, where system specifications are scattered across text documents, spreadsheets, and diagrams, toward a model-centric approach in which structured, interconnected domain models serve as the primary means of information exchange and the authoritative source of truth. In traditional engineering, a document is a static, standalone artifact requiring manual updates, while a model is a dynamic, interconnected representation built on structured data that maintains relationships between system elements automatically[^c5].
The release of SysML v2 in September 2025 and the launch of its certification program in June 2026 marked the most significant evolution of systems modeling in nearly twenty years, with the language redesigned from the ground up to address long-standing limitations in precision, expressiveness, and tool interoperability[^c6]. The history and maturity of MBSE from Wymore's 1993 book through the INCOSE SE Vision 2035 are covered in depth on the [[mbse/overview|MBSE Overview]] page. MBSE adoption faces challenges spanning technical, cultural, organizational, and educational dimensions, including tool interoperability issues, workforce competency gaps, and organizational resistance to change. Adoption spans aerospace, defense, automotive, rail, manufacturing, and other sectors, with organizations reporting quantified benefits including reduced development cycle lengths, earlier detection of design flaws, and improved cross-disciplinary collaboration.