An IETMDB is the source data for the preparation of IETMs. IETMs prepared in accordance with this specification are intended for use in the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and logistics support of equipment/systems or for the accomplishment of the assigned mission of users.

For complex weapon systems and other types of military equipment, adequate logistic support in all its forms requires an enormous amount of current, readily accessible, accurate, and highly detailed data, consisting of TI. This information has been traditionally prepared and distributed to the end user in paper form; but with new technology, it can be better and more effectively displayed or presented electronically and interactively to an end user. The material presented is derived from material stored in textual, graphical, audio, or video form in a revisable data base which is composed of logically connected but randomly accessible IETM data elements. It is this starting point of the IETM electronic data chain that is specified in this document. An integral part of the lETM concept and, in the larger arena of the Department of Defense (DoD) Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistic Support (CALS) program, is that the Services can acquire and maintain large scale data bases. They can also gain access to such data bases that are maintained continuously by a contractor.

An IETMDB is a complete collection of data base elements relating to a weapon system or other equipment acquired by the Government and constructed in a standardized manner to provide the following capabilities:

a. The IETMDB can serve as the basis for construction and update of the entire suite of electronically-displayed, weapon system, IETMs through the use of automated authoring systems.

b. Government activities or DoD contractors concerned with logistic support for the weapon system involved, can access the data base directly to obtain needed logistic support information for specific purposes.

c. The IETMDB, or portions of it, can be interchanged by means of standardized formats and procedures throughout the DoD and its supporting contractors when needed for any purpose.