MIL-STD-188-125-2: HEMP Protection for Ground-Based C41 Facilities Performing Critical Missions, Part 2

MIL-STD-188-125-2 establishes minimum requirements and design objectives for high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) hardening of transportable ground-based systems that perform critical, time-urgent command, control, communications, computer, and intelligence (C⁴I) missions. 

MIL-STD-188-125-2 prescribes minimum performance requirements for low-risk protection from mission-aborting damage or upset due to HEMP threat environments defined in MIL-STD-2169. The standard also addresses minimum testing requirements for demonstrating that prescribed performance has been achieved and for verifying that the installed protection measures provide the operationally required HEMP hardness for the completed system. If the prescribed testing results in any hardware damage or functional upsets, the operational authority for the system will make the determination whether the observed event is mission aborting.

MIL-STD-188-125-2 defines the design and testing criteria for specifically designated transportable ground-based systems in HEMP-hardened, critical, time-urgent C⁴I networks. Such systems include subscriber terminals and data processing centers, transmitting and receiving communications stations, and relay systems. The standard applies to both new systems and modifications of existing systems. Although only local portions of system interconnects are addressed, it is assumed that survivable long-haul communications paths, fiberoptic links, or other hardened interconnects between systems will be provided as required for mission accomplishment.

Survivable C⁴I capabilities are essential to a credible military deterrent. This standard supports nuclear survivability objectives by providing a standardized, low-risk protection approach for transportable ground-based systems in HEMP-hardened C⁴I networks. These uniform requirements ensure balanced HEMP hardening for all critical systems and facilities in the network.

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