Radiometrics Midwest Corporation provides military EMC testing for electronic equipment, subsystems and systems at our A2LA-accredited EMC laboratory in Illinois.
Radiometrics performs emissions, susceptibility, shielding effectiveness, transfer impedance and engineering testing for military and defense EMC programs, including testing to applicable MIL-STD-461 requirements. Our capabilities include both A2LA-accredited methods and additional specialized military EMC testing performed with appropriate laboratory or rented test equipment when required.
MIL-STD-461 EMC Testing
MIL-STD-461 establishes electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility requirements for equipment and subsystems used in military applications.
The required test methods depend on the equipment, installation platform, electrical interfaces and procurement requirements.
Radiometrics can review the applicable specification, test methods and equipment configuration with the customer before testing begins.
MIL-STD-461 Testing Capabilities
Depending on the applicable equipment and requirements, Radiometrics can support MIL-STD-461 test methods involving:
- Conducted emissions
- Radiated emissions
- Conducted susceptibility
- Radiated susceptibility
- Electrostatic discharge
- Transient susceptibility
- Magnetic-field emissions and susceptibility
- RF conducted susceptibility
- RF radiated susceptibility
The specific methods and test levels are determined by the applicable MIL-STD-461 requirements and procurement specification.
Conducted Emissions Testing
Conducted emissions measurements evaluate electromagnetic disturbances present on power and other applicable conductors.
Military equipment can contain switching power supplies, converters, digital electronics, motor controls and other circuitry capable of generating conducted interference.
Radiometrics performs applicable conducted emissions measurements using the test configurations, frequency ranges and limits required by the specified military test method.
Radiated Emissions Testing
Radiated emissions testing evaluates electromagnetic energy emitted by the equipment and associated cables.
Testing can identify emissions that could interfere with radios, navigation equipment, sensors, communication systems and other nearby electronic equipment.
Radiometrics performs applicable radiated emissions measurements in controlled EMC test environments.
Conducted Susceptibility Testing
Conducted susceptibility testing evaluates whether electromagnetic disturbances coupled onto power, signal or control connections affect equipment performance.
Depending on the applicable MIL-STD-461 method, testing can involve RF signals, transients or other disturbances applied to equipment interfaces.
Equipment performance is monitored during exposure according to the customer’s required operating modes and acceptance criteria.
MIL-STD-461 CS118 Electrostatic Discharge Testing
Radiometrics performs applicable MIL-STD-461 CS118 electrostatic discharge testing for equipment requiring evaluation of susceptibility to personnel-borne ESD.
Equipment is operated and monitored during testing using the applicable test conditions and performance requirements established for the military EMC program.
Radiated Susceptibility Testing
Radiated susceptibility testing evaluates equipment operation when exposed to electromagnetic fields.
Military equipment may be required to withstand substantially higher RF field strengths than many commercial products.
Radiometrics performs applicable radiated susceptibility testing using controlled electromagnetic fields while equipment performance is monitored.
MIL-STD-461 Test Methods
Depending on the applicable revision, equipment and procurement requirements, military EMC programs may include methods from the following groups:
- CE — Conducted Emissions
- CS — Conducted Susceptibility
- RE — Radiated Emissions
- RS — Radiated Susceptibility
Radiometrics performs a broad range of MIL-STD-461 testing, including CE101, CE102, CS101, CS114, CS115, CS116, CS118, RE101, RE102, RS101 and RS103, as applicable to the specified revision and test program.
Some test methods are included within Radiometrics’ A2LA-accredited scope, while other specialized methods can be performed using appropriate laboratory or rented test equipment. Contact Radiometrics regarding the specific MIL-STD-461 methods and accreditation requirements for your program.
The applicable methods should be determined from the equipment installation, platform, contractual requirements and applicable MIL-STD-461 revision rather than assuming that every method applies to every product.
Shielding Effectiveness and Transfer Impedance
Military EMC programs frequently involve shielding requirements in addition to equipment emissions and susceptibility testing.
Radiometrics has specialized experience with shielding effectiveness, screening attenuation and transfer impedance measurements for enclosures, cables, connectors and shielding systems.
These measurements can be coordinated with other military EMC testing when required by the equipment qualification or engineering program.
Large and Heavy Military Equipment
Radiometrics’ large 10-meter semi-anechoic chamber can accommodate many large and heavy test items that cannot readily be evaluated in conventional EMC chambers.
The facility includes a 20-foot-diameter turntable with a load capacity exceeding 25,000 pounds and an equipment entrance approximately 20 feet wide by 16 feet high.
This capability can be valuable for military vehicles, large electronic systems, mobile equipment and other substantial test items requiring controlled EMC measurements.
Pre-Compliance and Developmental Military EMC Testing
Military EMC qualification failures can result in significant program delays, particularly when equipment has already reached a mature design stage.
Pre-compliance testing allows potential emissions and susceptibility problems to be investigated before formal qualification.
Radiometrics can perform focused developmental measurements to evaluate:
- Shielding
- Grounding and bonding
- Cable configuration
- Power-input filtering
- Interface filtering
- Enclosure design
- Power supplies
- Digital circuitry
- Equipment operating modes
Military EMC Troubleshooting
If equipment fails an EMC requirement, Radiometrics can work with the manufacturer’s engineering team to characterize the failure.
Where practical, corrective changes can be evaluated during the test program to determine whether they improve EMC performance.
Our combination of emissions, susceptibility and shielding measurement capability allows problems to be investigated from several different EMC perspectives.
Custom Military and Defense Specifications
Military and defense programs may impose contractual EMC requirements in addition to, or instead of, standard MIL-STD-461 methods.
Radiometrics can review customer specifications and develop test configurations around required frequencies, levels, operating modes and performance criteria.
Developmental or engineering tests can also be performed when a standard method does not completely address the equipment or engineering objective.
Information Needed for a Military EMC Quote
Please provide the following information when available:
- Equipment or system description
- Applicable MIL-STD-461 revision
- Required test methods
- Customer or procurement specification
- Test-item dimensions and weight
- AC or DC power requirements
- Electrical system voltage
- External cables and interfaces
- Required operating modes
- Required susceptibility levels
- Equipment performance criteria
- Support equipment required during testing
- Drawings or photographs
- Previous EMC reports or test data, when available
For large or unusually heavy equipment, contact Radiometrics before shipment so chamber access, turntable capacity, power and operating requirements can be reviewed.
Why Radiometrics for Military EMC Testing?
Radiometrics has provided EMC testing and engineering services since 1983.
Our capabilities extend beyond routine emissions measurements to include susceptibility testing, shielding effectiveness, transfer impedance, large-equipment testing and EMC troubleshooting.
This allows defense manufacturers and suppliers to coordinate multiple aspects of an EMC development or qualification program through one laboratory.
Schedule Military EMC Testing
Contact Radiometrics to discuss MIL-STD-461 testing, shielding effectiveness, emissions, susceptibility, pre-compliance evaluation, troubleshooting, scheduling or quotation requirements.