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This type of document has been superseded [2] by the description of capability needs called an Initial Capabilities Document, as of CJCSI 3170.01E. The CJCSI 3170.01 and 6212.01 were superseded [3] by the CJCSI 5123.01 Series. [4]