scope:

AIM

The aim of this document is to provide general guidance on the policy, implementation and responsibilities for the application of Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) in multinational armament programmes within NATO.

APPLICABILITY

This guidance applies to armament programmes whereby two or more NATO nations collectively manage the logistics support of the materiel solution/component, in the form of one or more Systems-of-Interest (SOI), through its life cycle stages, as described in the Handbook on the Phased Armaments Programming System (PAPS, AAP-20) document. It includes commonly, co-operatively, multinationally, as well as jointly funded armament programmes, and may also be applied to national armaments programmes. While ILS can be applied to all armament programmes, the level of implementation will be dependent on the degree of innovation and complexity of the materiel solution, support environment, and the availability of resources such as funding and specialized personnel.

Decisions on support requirements have the greatest impact on system performance, life cycle cost and supportability when taken early in the period of the life cycle of a programme and a system. ILS disciplines shall plan and develop Logistics support requirements and ensure SOI quality in terms of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Supportability and Testability (RAMST). ILS of the SOI shall include the whole composite of hardware, software, data, communications, personnel, procedures, tools and facilities. ILS can provide the tools to accomplish that objective in a structured and integrated way, however to obtain that objective, the provision of front-end funding for ILS activities is required to reduce overall life cycle costs.