scope:

Purpose. This handbook establishes uniform methods for predicting the reliability of military electronic equipment and systems. It provides a common basis for reliability predictions during acquisition programs for military electronic systems and equipment. It also establishes a common basis for comparing and evaluating reliability predictions of related or competitive designs.

Application. This handbook contains two methods of reliability prediction - "Part Stress Analysis" in Section 5.1 and "Parts Count" in Section 5.2. These methods vary in degree of information needed to apply them. The Part Stress Analysis Method requires the greater amount of detail information and is applicable during the later design phase when actual hardware and circuits are being designed. The Parts Count Method requires less information, generally that concerning quantities of different part types, quality level of parts, and the application environment. This method is applicable in the early design phase and during proposal formulation.