What is the primary life cycle sustainment objective of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase?

The primary life cycle sustainment objective of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase is to develop long-term support concepts. This phase focuses on ensuring that the system being developed not only meets the initial operational requirements but is also viable for long-term operational and maintenance considerations.

During the EMD phase, the aim is to establish a framework that addresses how the system will be supported throughout its operational life. This includes considerations for provisioning, logistics support, maintenance strategies, training, and any necessary documentation. By crafting these support concepts early in the life cycle, program managers can ensure that the system is sustainable and that potential challenges in support and maintenance are identified and mitigated before they become critical issues.

This approach is critical as it lays the foundation for effective sustainment, helping to reduce risks associated with lifecycle costs, performance, and overall mission readiness. In essence, developing long-term support concepts in this phase is not just about the system itself but about ensuring that ongoing operational requirements can be met efficiently and effectively over the system's lifetime.