scope:

This publication should be used by NATO programmes, NATO Agencies, and Nations in the implementation of System Life Cycle Management (SLCM). It facilitates interoperability, communication, collaboration and cooperation, while minimising total life cycle cost. NATO armaments acquisition is focusing on multinational programmes, which emphasises the need for common methods of work by Nations and Agencies. The definition of such a common process management is documented in this publication.

The scope of this publication is to establish a generic,comprehensive and informative process model that shall be used on NATO and Multinational Programmes. This model can also be applied to National Programmes.

Extant guidance recommends the use of civil standards wherever practically possible, consequently, NATO uses ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 as the basis for implementing Life cycle processes. This allows for traditional acquisition and procurement cycles and also for incremental and iterative initiatives for the realisation of required capabilities.