scope:

This handbook is a reference document providing uniform design and evaluation guidelines for the survivability enhancement of aircraft Mission-Essential Weapon Systems (MEWS) for the Naval Air Systems Command, to ensure that effective combat operations are achieved when operating in a conventional weapon threat environment. The design guidelines encompass signature suppression (or its control) and vulnerability reduction. Those elements and design activities that are related to survivability enhancement, but are derived from the degradation of threat subsystem functions (e.g., electronic warfare) or from the ways that the aircraft can be utilized in a hostile environment (e.g., tactics) are not included. The evaluation guidelines, for the purpose of achieving systematic quantification and evaluation of combat survivability, include definition of mission scenario and associated threat environment, vulnerability to threat damage mechanisms, encounter survivability, and survivability enhancement trade-offs.

These guidelines are applicable to the procurement of all Navy/Marine Corps aircraft MEWS, including remotely piloted vehicles, but excluding systems designated solely for research and training.

It is intended that this handbook be applied throughout the materiel acquisition process beginning with the reconciliation of alternative concepts (e.g., conceptual phase) to fill a mission need, as may be set forth in the Mission Element Need Statement (MENS), and extending through the entire life span of aircraft MEWS.

It is intended that this handbook be applied to aircraft MEWS which have already begun full-scale engineering development, production, modernization, improvement, and retrofit programs.

This handbook should be used in conjunction with aircraft detail specifications and other implementing documentation (e.g., NAVMATINST 3900.16, NAVAIRINST 3920.1) in preparing combat survivability requirements. It may be included in requests for proposals, contract statements of work, survivability program plans, and other contractual documents. It is intended that this handbook be applied in whole, or in part as specified in the implementing documentation, and used as a supplement to MIL-STD-2069, and General Specification for Design and Construction of Aircraft Weapon Systems, SD-24.