Within the context of the U.S. Department of Defense, a Mission Needs Statement (MNS) was a type of document which identified capability needs for a program to satisfy by a combination of solutions (DOTMLPF) to resolve a mission deficiency or to enhance operational capability.
This term was introduced as a fundamental step in CJCSI 3170.01B (Apr 2001),[1] 6212.01D (Apr 2005), and the Interim Defense Acquisition Guidebook (Oct 2004).
This type of document has been superseded[2] by the description of capability needs called an Initial Capabilities Document, as of CJCSI 3170.01E.
The CJCSI 3170.01 and 6212.01 were superseded[3] by the CJCSI 5123.01 Series.
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