MIL-STD-461F: Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Equipment

MIL-STD-461F dictates the requirements for the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of devices and systems created for and used by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). MIL-STD-461F consists of an array of test procedures designed to help manufacturers and operators of electrical devices ensure the devices are not susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and do not create EMI themselves. The test procedures are broken up into four groups: radiated emissions (RE), conducted emissions (CE), radiated susceptibility (RS) and conducted susceptibility (CS). Procedures are named with one of the two-letter abbreviations followed by a code; for example, RE103, a radiation emissions test procedure specific to antenna spurious and harmonic outputs.       

The EMC of military equipment is vital for the DoD; in military environments both at home and on the battlefield. Everything from smartphones to helicopter navigation systems produces an electromagnetic field and has the potential to compromise the safety, efficiency or secrecy of defense operations. The DoD created an Electromagnetic Compatibility Program in 1960 to address the growing concern that EMI was affecting military operations to integrate electromagnetic compatibility into defense industry R&D. The first version of MIL-STD-461 was then produced in 1967 by a joint committee of the three military branches to implement interference reduction throughout the entire DoD.

Since its inception, MIL-STD-461 has been revised and expanded by the collaborative efforts of the army, navy and air force, with the most recent edition being MIL-STD-461G. The changes made between MIL-STD-461F and MIL-STD-461G can be seen below. Major differences include the removal of CS106 and the addition of CS117 and CS118.

View MIL-STD-461G
 

Differences between MIL-STD-461F and MIL-STD-461G