1. A disciplined, unified, and iterative approach to the management and technical activities necessary to integrate support considerations into system and equipment design; develop support requirements that are related consistently to readiness objectives, to design, and to each other; acquire the required support; and provide the required support during the operational phase at minimum cost. 2. A composite of all the support considerations necessary to assure the effective and economical support of a system for its life cycle. It is an integral part of all other aspects of system acquisition and operation.