MIL-STD-881 is the Department of Defense standard for Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items [MIL-HDBK-502 para 2.2.1].
The standard provides structure to identify costs across the system life cycle, with particular emphasis on cybersecurity at all acquisition category levels and classification levels throughout the entire life cycle—including unclassified systems and stand-alone systems not persistently connected to networks [MIL-STD-881]. It encompasses Design, Test & Evaluation (DT&E) activities planned and monitored by the developing agency, normally conducted by contractors, including component and subsystem testing, hardware/software integration, and production qualification testing using models, simulations, test beds, and prototypes to demonstrate engineering design completion, risk minimization, and specification compliance [MIL-STD-881].
The Air Force references MIL-STD-881 as a resource for work breakdown structure examples in cost estimation [AFMAN 65-506 para 4.3.4] and program management [AFMCI 63-1201].
Unofficial — answered from indexed publication text, which may be incomplete or out of date. Your MAJCOM/unit supplement may be stricter. Verify the official PDF before acting or writing a finding.
AFMAN 65-506 para 4.3.4, p. 21 (effective/current as of 2026-06-23)d 881 (MIL-STD-881) contains weapon system related examples of work breakdown structures. Similarly, the Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation Operating and Support Cost-Estimating Guide contains a cost element structure for operations and support of weapon systems. While MIL-STD 881 and the Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation Guide provide excellent examples, they may not fit the circumstances of the alternative being estimated. As a result, the analyst may have to build a new cost element structure to fit the level of detail and unique circumstances of their estimate. Figure 4.1 contains cost elements that may be used in a facility construction cost element structure. 4.3.4. Select Estimating Technique – will likely vary across cost elements 4.3.4.1. The estimating technique will depend
AFMCI 63-1201 (effective/current as of 2024-04-26)MIL-HDBK-1785, System Security Engineering Program Management Requirements, 22 Apr 2014 Military Engineering Data Asset Locator System (MEDALS), Defense Logistics Agency MIL-STD-881, Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items, 3 Oct 2011 MIL-STD-882E, System Safety, 11 May 2012 MIL-STD-1472H, Human Engineering, 15 Sep 2020 MIL-STD-3022, Documentation of Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) for Models and Simulations, 5 Apr 2012 MIL-STD-31000B, Technical Data Packages, 31 Oct 2018 MIL-STD-46855A, Human Engineering Requirements for Military Systems, Equipment, and Facilities, 24 May 2011 Product Data Acquisition, Functional Areas, AF Portal (https://www.my.af.mil/gcss- af/USAF/ep/globalTab.do?channelPageId=s2D8EB9D629AAD6C8012A3858765B1825) Program Protection Plan Ou
No supplement passage retrieved — check the supplement chain on the pub page before citing.
No federal/DoD passage retrieved.