MIL-STD-461H and MIL-STD-464D: defense EMC explained
Electronics delivered to US Department of Defense programs meets two coupled interface standards. MIL-STD-461 sets electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements for equipment and subsystems; its current revision is MIL-STD-461H, dated 17 April 2026, which superseded MIL-STD-461G of 11 December 2015. MIL-STD-464 sets electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) requirements for complete systems; its current revision is MIL-STD-464D of 24 December 2020, validated by a notice dated 9 February 2026. This page lists the 19 test methods, the platform requirement matrix and what 461H changed in it, the three data items (EMICP, EMITP, EMITR), what MIL-STD-464 covers, and how DO-160, AECTP-500, TEMPEST and ITAR relate to the two standards. Every edition date comes from the DLA ASSIST records; requirement text comes from the published standards.
Two standards, two scopes
Section titled “Two standards, two scopes”| Standard | Current revision | Object | What the text says about scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIL-STD-461 | H, 17 April 2026 (supersedes G, 11 December 2015) | Equipment and subsystems | Best suited to enclosures no larger than an equipment rack, discrete wiring harnesses between enclosures, power from prime power sources; not to be applied directly to modules inside an enclosure or to entire platforms |
| MIL-STD-464 | D, 24 December 2020, Notice 1 (validation) 9 February 2026 | Systems: airborne, sea, space and ground, including associated ordnance | E3 interface requirements and verification criteria for the complete system |
The link between them is explicit. In MIL-STD-464C, paragraph 5.7 requires individual subsystems and equipment to meet interference control requirements "such as" the conducted and radiated emission and susceptibility requirements of MIL-STD-461, verified by tests such as those of MIL-STD-461. Equipment that passes 461 is therefore an input to 464 compliance, not proof of it: the system-level requirements (margins, lightning, external RF environment, EMRADHAZ) are verified on the system.
MIL-STD-461 edition history
Section titled “MIL-STD-461 edition history”| Revision | Date (ASSIST) | What changed, per the standard itself |
|---|---|---|
| 461C | 4 August 1986 | Test methods still in the separate MIL-STD-462 |
| 461D | 11 January 1993 (Change Notice 1, 19 June 1997) | Paired with MIL-STD-462D |
| 461E | 20 August 1999 | Methods merged into 461 (461G calls MIL-STD-462 "superseded by this standard"); 1 kHz / 10 kHz bandwidth break point moved from 250 kHz to 150 kHz to harmonise with commercial standards |
| 461F | 10 December 2007 | Added CS106 (transients, power leads) |
| 461G | 11 December 2015 | Deleted CS106; added CS117 (lightning induced transients) and CS118 (personnel borne ESD) |
| 461H | 17 April 2026 | Same 19 methods; changes to applicability, Table V and general test rules (next section) |
ASSIST lists the next review of MIL-STD-461 for 16 April 2031. A contract that cites an earlier revision keeps that revision: section 6.2 asks acquisition documents to state the title, number and date of the standard.
What MIL-STD-461H changed
Section titled “What MIL-STD-461H changed”461H marks its changes with vertical lines in the margin rather than listing them. The changes below are the ones visible when the 461H text is compared with 461G.
| Topic | MIL-STD-461G (2015) | MIL-STD-461H (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| CE101 range | 30 Hz to 10 kHz | 30 Hz to 20 kHz; aircraft stay at 10 kHz (AC from the second harmonic) |
| CE101, CE102, CS101 scope | All power leads powered from outside the EUT | Not applicable to power leads that do not directly interface with the platform power bus |
| Receiver stepping (4.3.10.3.3) | Step in one-half bandwidth increments | Step in one-quarter bandwidth increments or less |
| Overload precautions (4.3.7.3) | Periodic checks | Checks performed and documented for each measurement setup |
| CS101 test equipment | Isolation transformer for oscilloscope use, or transducer for receiver use | Two oscilloscope probes or one differential probe for oscilloscope use, or a ripple detection transducer for receiver use |
| CS114 | All interconnecting cables | Not applicable to coaxial cables to antenna ports of antenna-connected receivers, except on surface ships and submarines |
| CS117 on surface ships | "Limited applicability" to cables routed above deck | Only exposed topside cables longer than 1 metre, for safety-critical equipment |
| RS105 | Enclosures exposed to the external environment | Same, and only where the item has an EMP requirement |
| RE102 antennas | Antenna position only | Antenna pointing defined (parallel to the floor, azimuth perpendicular to the setup boundary) |
| Table V blanks | Many methods blank (not applicable) for Air Force aircraft, space and ground | Those blanks become S: the procuring activity must specify |
The 19 test methods (Table IV)
Section titled “The 19 test methods (Table IV)”The frequency ranges below are the applicability paragraphs of MIL-STD-461G and 461H. Where a range depends on the platform, the table says so.
Conducted emissions (CE)
Section titled “Conducted emissions (CE)”| Method | Title in the standard | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| CE101 | Conducted emissions, audio frequency currents, power leads | 30 Hz to 20 kHz in 461H (10 kHz in 461G); surface ships, submarines, Army aircraft, Navy aircraft with ASW equipment |
| CE102 | Conducted emissions, radio frequency potentials, power leads | 10 kHz to 10 MHz, all power leads powered from outside the EUT; limit in dBµV (Figure CE102-1) |
| CE106 | Conducted emissions, antenna port | 10 kHz to 40 GHz, antenna ports of transmitters, receivers and amplifiers; not for permanently mounted antennas |
Conducted emissions are measured on the power leads of the equipment under test (EUT): as current with a current probe for CE101, and as voltage at the line impedance stabilisation network for CE102. A CE102 limit is a voltage limit, like civil CISPR conducted emission limits, but the set-up, LISN and curve are those of the standard.
Conducted susceptibility (CS)
Section titled “Conducted susceptibility (CS)”| Method | Title in the standard | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| CS101 | Power leads | 30 Hz to 150 kHz; AC leads up to 30 A per phase and DC input leads, returns excluded |
| CS103 | Antenna port, intermodulation | 15 kHz to 10 GHz, receivers, as specified in the procurement specification |
| CS104 | Antenna port, rejection of undesired signals | 30 Hz to 20 GHz, receivers; all receivers on Navy ships and submarines |
| CS105 | Antenna port, cross-modulation | 30 Hz to 20 GHz, receivers processing AM signals |
| CS109 | Structure current | 60 Hz to 100 kHz, equipment operating at 100 kHz or less with 1 µV sensitivity or better; handheld equipment exempt |
| CS114 | Bulk cable injection | 10 kHz to 200 MHz on interconnecting cables; extra common-mode requirement from 4 kHz to 1 MHz on ship and submarine power cables |
| CS115 | Bulk cable injection, impulse excitation | Aircraft, space and ground system cables; ships and submarines when specified |
| CS116 | Damped sinusoidal transients, cables and power leads | 10 kHz to 100 MHz |
| CS117 | Lightning induced transients, cables and power leads | Safety-critical equipment cables, and cables connected to equipment performing safety-critical functions |
| CS118 | Personnel borne electrostatic discharge | Equipment with a man-machine interface; not ordnance items |
CS118, the ESD test, discharges a 150 pF capacitor through 330 ohms, with four levels (2, 4, 8 and 15 kV) and an 8 kV contact discharge on conductive surfaces. The rationale in 461G says the requirement supports the electrostatic charge control requirement of MIL-STD-464 at system level. For the civil method, see ESD per IEC 61000-4-2 and IEC 61000-4-2.
CS117 is not a direct lightning test. The 461G rationale states that it does not cover the Direct Effects or Nearby Lightning requirements of MIL-STD-464, and that CS115 and CS116 may give sufficient coverage for nearby lightning on most equipment.
Radiated emissions (RE)
Section titled “Radiated emissions (RE)”| Method | Title in the standard | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| RE101 | Magnetic field | 30 Hz to 100 kHz, measured at 7 cm; Navy aircraft only with ASW equipment |
| RE102 | Electric field | 10 kHz to 18 GHz for surface ships, submarines, Army and Navy aircraft and space; 2 MHz to 18 GHz for ground and Air Force aircraft |
| RE103 | Antenna spurious and harmonic outputs | 10 kHz to 40 GHz; an alternative to CE106 for transmitters tested with their antennas |
For measurement technique see radiated emissions EMC test and, for unit conversion, decibels for EMC.
Radiated susceptibility (RS)
Section titled “Radiated susceptibility (RS)”| Method | Title in the standard | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| RS101 | Magnetic field | 30 Hz to 100 kHz; for Army and Navy ground equipment only vehicles with minesweeping or mine detection capability |
| RS103 | Electric field | 30 MHz to 18 GHz for all; 2 MHz to 30 MHz for Army and Navy (optional for others); 18 to 40 GHz optional |
| RS105 | Transient electromagnetic field | Enclosures exposed to the external environment; in 461H, only with an EMP requirement |
RS103 levels are set in Table XI by platform; the standard requires vertical polarisation up to 30 MHz and both polarisations above, and rejects circular polarisation. MIL-HDBK-235-1D gives the data used to tailor RS103 and the MIL-STD-464 environments. RS105 simulates the free-field EMP transient; for the civil counterpart see HEMP and IEMI: IEC 61000-4-25.
The platform matrix (Table V) in 461H
Section titled “The platform matrix (Table V) in 461H”Each cell is A (applicable), L (limited as described in the method) or S (the procuring activity must specify applicability, limit and procedure). In 461G, cells now marked S were often blank, which meant "not applicable".
| Platform | CE101 | CE102 | CS109 | CS117 | CS118 | RE101 | RS101 | RS105 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface ships | A | A | L | L | S | A | L | L |
| Submarines | A | A | L | S | S | A | L | L |
| Aircraft, Army (including flight line) | A | A | S (blank in G) | L | A | A | A | L |
| Aircraft, Navy | L | A | S (blank in G) | L | A | L | L | L |
| Aircraft, Air Force | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | L | A | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) |
| Space systems, including launch vehicles | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | L | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) |
| Ground, Army | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | S | A | S (blank in G) | L | S (blank in G) |
| Ground, Navy | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | S | A | S (blank in G) | L | L |
| Ground, Air Force | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) | A | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) | S (blank in G) |
The columns not shown are the same on every row: CE106 L, CS101 A, CS103 S, CS105 S, CS114 A, RE102 A, RE103 L, RS103 A; CS104 is S everywhere in 461H (it was L for ships and submarines in 461G); CS115 is A except S for ships and submarines; CS116 is A on every row in 461H (submarines were L in 461G). When equipment goes on more than one platform, section 5.2 requires the most stringent applicable requirement.
Set-up rules that catch civil labs out
Section titled “Set-up rules that catch civil labs out”| Rule | MIL-STD-461G and 461H |
|---|---|
| Ground plane | At least 2.25 square metres, smaller side at least 76 cm, surface resistance no greater than 0.1 mΩ per square |
| RF absorber | Above, behind and on both sides of the EUT and behind the antenna; at least 6 dB from 80 to 250 MHz and 10 dB above 250 MHz |
| Ambient | At least 6 dB below the limit in a shielded enclosure |
| Bandwidth | Fixed measurement bandwidths per range (Table II); no narrowband or broadband classification |
| Susceptibility limit | An upper bound: the EUT must also work at any level below the limit |
For chamber choice see EMC chamber types: SAC, FAR, OATS, reverberation; 461G and 461H also allow a mode-tuned reverberation chamber as an alternative RS103 procedure.
EMICP, EMITP and EMITR
Section titled “EMICP, EMITP and EMITR”Section 6.3 assigns three Data Item Descriptions, called up on the Contract Data Requirements List (DD Form 1423).
| DID | Title | Content per the standard |
|---|---|---|
| DI-EMCS-80199 | Electromagnetic Interference Control Procedures (EMICP) | Design procedures and techniques for the control of EMI; approval does not relieve the supplier of meeting the requirements |
| DI-EMCS-80201 | Electromagnetic Interference Test Procedures (EMITP) | The Government-approved, item-specific test procedures adapted from the generic methods |
| DI-EMCS-80200 | Electromagnetic Interference Test Report (EMITR) | All test results, forwarded for evaluation before acceptance |
The appendix describes the EMICP as a mechanism to make contractors analyse their design for EMI, and says that approval only recognises that the design effort addresses the right issues.
MIL-STD-464: what the system standard covers
Section titled “MIL-STD-464: what the system standard covers”ASSIST dates MIL-STD-464D to 24 December 2020 and lists a validation notice of 9 February 2026, with the next review due in February 2036. The section structure below is that of MIL-STD-464C (1 December 2010), the last revision whose full text we could check.
| 464C paragraph | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 5.1 | Margins: at least 6 dB for safety-critical and mission-critical functions; electrically initiated devices at least 16.5 dB below maximum no-fire stimulus for safety assurance, 6 dB for other applications |
| 5.2 | Intra-system EMC, including hull generated intermodulation, shipboard internal EME, multipactor effects, induced levels at antenna ports |
| 5.3 | External RF electromagnetic environment |
| 5.4 | High-power microwave (HPM) sources |
| 5.5 | Lightning |
| 5.6 | Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) |
| 5.7 | Subsystems and equipment EMI (MIL-STD-461), non-developmental and commercial items, shipboard DC magnetic field |
| 5.8 | Electrostatic charge control, including precipitation static and ordnance |
| 5.9 | EMRADHAZ: HERP (personnel), HERF (fuel), HERO (ordnance) |
| 5.10 | Life cycle E3 hardness |
| 5.11 and 5.12 | Electrical bonding and external grounds |
| 5.13 | TEMPEST |
| 5.14 | System radiated emissions, emission control (EMCON), inter-system EMC |
| 5.15 | EM spectrum supportability (NTIA manual, DoDI 4650.01) |
A 2025 US national laboratory report comparing 464C and 464D (SAND2025-10567) lists the nine radiated environments defined by the standard (flight deck and weather deck on Navy ships, main beam of shipboard transmitters, space and launch vehicles, ground systems, rotary wing aircraft, fixed wing aircraft, restricted and unrestricted HERO) and notes one visible change: in 464D the main beam environment assumes the system is not ship-launched ordnance crossing the main beam of 2,700 to 3,600 MHz transmitters, which lowers its peak from 27,460 V/m to 12,667 V/m, while the unrestricted HERO environment keeps 27,460 V/m for all systems.
The handbooks
Section titled “The handbooks”| Handbook | Current revision (ASSIST) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| MIL-HDBK-237 | D, 20 May 2005 (validation notice 4 April 2013) | E3 and spectrum supportability guidance for the acquisition process |
| MIL-HDBK-235-1 | D, 3 April 2018 (Notice 1, 16 October 2024) | Part 1D General Guidance on military operational EME profiles, used to tailor RS103 and the 464 environments |
Handbooks are guidance; they impose nothing unless a contract calls them up.
TEMPEST
Section titled “TEMPEST”The emanation security requirement known as TEMPEST appears in MIL-STD-464 as a system requirement. In 464C, paragraph 5.13 reads that national security information shall not be compromised by emanations from classified information processing equipment, verified by test, analysis, inspection or a combination, and names NSTISSAM TEMPEST/1-92 and CNSS Advisory Memorandum TEMPEST 01-02 as the test methodology. MIL-STD-461 contains no TEMPEST method. The NSA and CNSS documents are not public, so this guide says nothing about their levels or zones.
NATO: STANAG 3516, STANAG 4370 and AECTP-500
Section titled “NATO: STANAG 3516, STANAG 4370 and AECTP-500”Section 6.6 of MIL-STD-461H states that the standard implements STANAG 3516 (EMI test methods for aircraft electrical and electronic equipment) and STANAG 4370 (environmental testing). AECTP-500, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Tests and Verification, is one of the six publications covered by STANAG 4370. Edition E Version 1 was promulgated by the NATO Standardization Office on 8 December 2016 and superseded Edition 4. It is organised in categories: 501 equipment and subsystem testing, 502 man-worn and man-portable equipment, 503 support equipment, 504 to 507 platform verification (air, sea, land), 508 ordnance, 509 space and 510 miscellaneous. Its tailoring paragraph allows tailoring with written approval of the National Acceptance Authority, and does not recommend reducing severity below the 500-series or national requirements.
DO-160 and MIL-STD-461
Section titled “DO-160 and MIL-STD-461”The RTCA page for DO-160 lists DO-160G (2010) as the current version and announced DO-160H for publication in March 2026; check RTCA for its status before citing it. FAA AC 21-16G recognises DO-160 versions D to G. The table pairs DO-160 sections with the 461 method that addresses the same physics. These are analogues, not equivalences.
| DO-160 section (title per AC 21-16G) | Closest MIL-STD-461 method |
|---|---|
| Section 18, Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility, Power Inputs | CS101 |
| Section 20, Radio Frequency Susceptibility (conducted and radiated) | CS114, RS103 |
| Section 21, Emission of Radio Frequency Energy | CE102, RE102 |
| Section 22, Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility | CS117 |
| Section 23, Lightning Direct Effects | None in 461 (system level, MIL-STD-464) |
| Section 25, Electrostatic Discharge | CS118 |
The 461G rationale for CS117 says its levels derive from general and civil aviation experience and refers to SAE ARP 5412, 5414, 5415 and 5416. For the avionics design-assurance side see DO-178C / DO-254 avionics certification.
ITAR and export control
Section titled “ITAR and export control”MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-461H and MIL-STD-464C carry Distribution Statement A (approved for public release; distribution is unlimited). Export control attaches to the item and its technical data, not to the test standard. Military electronics appear in Category XI of the US Munitions List (22 CFR 121.1); the ITAR defines a US person in 22 CFR 120.62 as including lawful permanent residents and entities incorporated in the United States. Whether an EMI test report on a given item is ITAR or EAR technical data follows from the classification of that item. For the defense supplier cyber regime see CMMC and UK Cyber Essentials.
Step-by-step compliance plan
Section titled “Step-by-step compliance plan”- Read the contract clause. Note the revision and date of MIL-STD-461 cited, and any tailoring of limits or applicability.
- Identify the Table V rows for every platform the equipment will go on, and apply the most stringent requirement (section 5.2).
- Resolve every S and L entry with the procuring activity before testing.
- Write the EMICP (DI-EMCS-80199) if the CDRL asks for it: bonding, grounding, shielding, filtering and the other EMI design measures.
- Write the EMITP (DI-EMCS-80201) and get it approved: this is where the generic methods become the item test procedure.
- Pre-test the dominant risks (CE102, RE102, CS114, RS103 for most equipment).
- Check the lab set-up against the cited revision: under 461H, quarter-bandwidth stepping and per-setup overload checks.
- Report in the EMITR (DI-EMCS-80200) under the distribution statement required by the contract.
- Support MIL-STD-464 verification at system level with the 461 data.
For orders of magnitude per phase, see certification timeline.
Frequent pitfalls
Section titled “Frequent pitfalls”| Pitfall | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Citing "461H (2015)" or "461G (2026)" | Wrong edition in the test plan; 461H is 17 April 2026, 461G is 11 December 2015 |
| Leaving S entries of Table V unresolved | The lab cannot know whether CE101, CS109, RE101, RS101 or RS105 apply |
| Testing a 461G procedure on a 461H contract | Receiver stepping and overload checks no longer compliant |
| Treating the EMICP as the test procedure | The EMITP is the approved test procedure; the EMICP covers design |
| Assuming CS117 covers all lightning | It does not cover direct effects or nearby lightning of MIL-STD-464 |
| Submitting a DO-160 report as a 461 substitute | Different set-ups and levels; supporting evidence only |
| Reading CE102 limits as current | CE102 limits are voltage (dBµV) |
Claims the texts contradict
Section titled “Claims the texts contradict”| Common claim | What the text says |
|---|---|
| "MIL-STD-461H was published in December 2015" (this page said so) | ASSIST: 461H is dated 17 April 2026; 461G is dated 11 December 2015 |
| "CS117 and CS118 were added in 461F (2007)" (this page said so) | 461G section 6.8: 461G added CS117 and CS118 and deleted CS106, which 461F had added |
| "CE102 is in dBµA, not dBµV" (this page said so) | CE102 is "radio frequency potentials", limit in dBµV; CE101 is the current measurement |
| "EMICP means Electromagnetic Interference Control Plan and lists the tests and limits" (this page said so) | DI-EMCS-80199 is Control Procedures, for EMI design; tests go in the EMITP (DI-EMCS-80201) |
| "Platform classes are ground, ship above deck, ship below deck, aircraft, space" (this page said so) | Table V has nine rows: surface ships, submarines, Army, Navy and Air Force aircraft, space, Army, Navy and Air Force ground |
| "CS117 is mandatory for any airborne EUT" (this page said so) | CS117 applies to safety-critical equipment cables and those connected to safety-critical functions; L in Table V for aircraft |
| "RS103 runs from 2 MHz to 40 GHz" | 30 MHz to 18 GHz for all; 2 to 30 MHz for Army and Navy; 18 to 40 GHz only if specified |
| "MIL-STD-461 is never applied as written" | Table V is the default; tailoring is permitted (1.2.2), not required |
| "DO-160 Section 16 is the CS101 counterpart; DO-160H came out in 2024" (this page said so) | Section 16 is Power Input; Section 18 is audio frequency conducted susceptibility. RTCA announced DO-160H for March 2026 |
| "MIL-HDBK-235-1C is the current EME handbook" (this page said so) | ASSIST: 235-1D, 3 April 2018, Notice 1 of 16 October 2024 |
| "TEMPEST is layered on top of MIL-STD-461" | TEMPEST is a MIL-STD-464 system requirement (5.13 in 464C); 461 has no TEMPEST method |
Going further
Section titled “Going further”- DO-178C / DO-254 avionics certification: the software and hardware design-assurance pair for civil and defense avionics
- IEC 61000-4-3 radiated RF immunity: the civil radiated immunity method to compare with RS103
- EMC chamber types: SAC, FAR, OATS, reverberation: facility choice for defense and civil campaigns
- CMMC and UK Cyber Essentials: defense industrial base cyber posture, complementary to ITAR
- Certification timeline: cross-cutting orders of magnitude per phase
- Glossary: EMC terms used on this page
See also
Section titled “See also”- MIL-STD-1275F: 28 VDC military vehicle power
- What is EMC? Emissions, immunity and coupling
- AEC-Q100, Q101, Q200: automotive component qualification
- IATF 16949: automotive quality management
- ISO 26262: automotive functional safety
- EV charging: IEC 61851, ISO 15118 and OCPP conformity
- ESD per IEC 61000-4-2: method and test levels
- HEMP and IEMI: IEC 61000-4-25 and hardened electronics
Sources & references
- MIL-STD-461, Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment (ASSIST record, revisions C to H), US Department of Defense, DLA ASSIST quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=35789
- MIL-STD-464, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Requirements for Systems (ASSIST record, revisions to D Notice 1), US Department of Defense, DLA ASSIST quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=35794
- MIL-HDBK-237, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects and Spectrum Supportability Guidance for the Acquisition Process (ASSIST record), US Department of Defense, DLA ASSIST quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=53956
- MIL-HDBK-235-1D, Military Operational EME Profiles Part 1D General Guidance (ASSIST record), US Department of Defense, DLA ASSIST quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=277529
- MIL-STD-461G, 11 December 2015 (full text, everyspec mirror), US Department of Defense everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0300-0499/MIL-STD-461G_53571/
- MIL-STD-464C, 1 December 2010 (full text, everyspec mirror), US Department of Defense everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0300-0499/MIL-STD-464C_28312/
- Mil-Std-464C and Mil-Std-464D Electromagnetic Radiation Environment Evaluation, SAND2025-10567, Sandia National Laboratories www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2586985
- DO-160, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment, RTCA www.rtca.org/do-160/
- AC 21-16G, RTCA Document DO-160 versions D, E, F and G, Federal Aviation Administration www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_21-16G.pdf
- AECTP-500 Edition E Version 1, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Tests and Verification (copy hosted by a test laboratory), NATO Standardization Office ib-lenhardt.com/media/pages/product-testing/mil-std-461-standard/5ee12398b9-1751444372/aectp-500-ede-v1.pdf
- 22 CFR 121.1, The United States Munitions List (Category XI, Military Electronics), US Department of State, eCFR www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-121/section-121.1
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-464?
- MIL-STD-461 sets emission and susceptibility requirements for equipment and subsystems. Its scope paragraph says it is best suited to enclosures no larger than an equipment rack, connected by discrete wiring harnesses, and that it should not be applied directly to modules inside an enclosure or to entire platforms. MIL-STD-464 sets electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) requirements for complete airborne, sea, space and ground systems, including ordnance. MIL-STD-464 calls up MIL-STD-461: its subsystem EMI requirement asks each subsystem to meet requirements such as those of MIL-STD-461, verified by tests such as those in MIL-STD-461.
- Which edition of MIL-STD-461 is current?
- MIL-STD-461H, dated 17 April 2026, superseding MIL-STD-461G of 11 December 2015, according to the DLA ASSIST record. Earlier editions are F (10 December 2007), E (20 August 1999), D (11 January 1993) and C (4 August 1986). 461H adds no new test method: the same 19 methods remain, but applicability, the requirement matrix and several general test rules changed. A contract that cites 461G or 461F still binds the supplier to that edition.
- What are the EMICP, EMITP and EMITR?
- They are the three data items attached to MIL-STD-461. DI-EMCS-80199 is the Electromagnetic Interference Control Procedures (EMICP): the design procedures and techniques used to control EMI. DI-EMCS-80201 is the Electromagnetic Interference Test Procedures (EMITP): the Government-approved procedures that adapt the generic test methods to the item. DI-EMCS-80200 is the Electromagnetic Interference Test Report (EMITR). The standard states that approval of the EMICP does not relieve the supplier of meeting the contractual requirements.
- Is MIL-STD-461 always tailored?
- No. The default applicability is Table V, which gives each test method an A (applicable), L (limited as stated in the method) or S (the procuring activity must specify) for nine platform rows. The foreword says the procuring activity should consider tailoring, and section 1.2.2 allows requirements to be tailored in the request for proposal, specification or contract before testing starts. Every S entry forces a decision in the procurement documents; in 461H, Table V has many more S entries than in 461G.
- Does MIL-STD-461 replace civil EMC such as CISPR 32?
- No. MIL-STD-461 has its own set-ups (a ground plane of at least 2.25 square metres, line impedance stabilisation networks, absorber performance of 6 dB from 80 to 250 MHz and 10 dB above), its own limits and its own methods. CE101 measures current on power leads in the audio range; CE102 measures voltage from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, with limits in dBµV. Neither campaign substitutes for the other.
- Where does TEMPEST sit relative to MIL-STD-461 and 464?
- TEMPEST is a system requirement in MIL-STD-464, not a MIL-STD-461 test method. In MIL-STD-464C, paragraph 5.13 requires that national security information is not compromised by emanations from classified information processing equipment, and points to NSTISSAM TEMPEST/1-92 and CNSS Advisory Memorandum TEMPEST 01-02 for the test methodology.
- Can a DO-160 report be reused on a MIL-STD-461 program?
- Only as supporting evidence. Several DO-160 sections address the same physics as 461 methods (Section 18 audio frequency conducted susceptibility and CS101, Section 22 lightning induced transients and CS117, Section 25 ESD and CS118), but set-ups, waveforms and levels are defined differently. The 461G rationale for CS117 says its levels were derived from general and civil aviation experience and refers to SAE ARP 5412, 5414, 5415 and 5416, which is why the two lightning tests look alike. Acceptance against 461 still needs a 461 test, unless the procuring activity agrees otherwise.
- What are the most frequent pitfalls?
- Quoting the wrong edition or the wrong date (461H is April 2026, 461G is December 2015); assuming CS117 and CS118 come from 461F (they were added in 461G); reading the platform matrix as ground, ship and aircraft only, when it has nine rows split by service; not resolving the S entries of Table V in the contract; treating the EMICP as the test plan (that is the EMITP); and using a 461G test procedure after the contract moves to 461H, which changed receiver stepping and overload checks.