scope:

GENERAL

STANAG 1135, Annex C lists under individual product descriptions of national specifications which have been agreed as interchangeable.

Under previous agreements, a single national specification has been selected for each land systems product to provide the quality standard which other nations' specifications are expected to meet in order to achieve interchangeability. However, product development is constantly in progress, and national specifications are frequently revised to take advantage of this. Thus a nation whose specification is used as a guide may find it difficult to make such changes without altering the product quality standard in a manner unacceptable to other nations.

NATO guide specifications have therefore been prepared to define the minimum quality requirements of the most important products. Further specification may be prepared as considered necessary.

The quality standards contained in this document are to be used by Member Nations (MNs) in the preparation and maintenance of their individual procurement specifications and standards. An MN's individual procurement document may be more stringent depending upon its equipment. This STANAG is not designed to b e used in the direct procurement of products.

The guide specifications at Sections 2 to 8 represent the minimum quality acceptable under the appropriate NATO code number.

Nations' specifications shall comply with these minimum requirements before being acceptable as providing standardized products under the appropriate NATO code number.

In order to promote product development, any nation's specification may include additional tests, or improved quality requirements to those in the relevant guide specification.

Guide specifications shall be subject to review with the object of improving the product quality as required by operational use.