Electromagnetic Interference Qualification Of Submarine Components By Extension

Virtually all elecrical and electronic equipments installed on board submarines must meet the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) requirements of MIL-STD-461. These requirements encompass conducted and radiated emissions from the equipment as well as conducted and radiated susceptibility of the equipment to external stimuli. Currently the only approved means of qualifying equipment to these requirements is by test. MIL-STD-461 makes no provision for qualification by similarity. The use of this standard is mandatory in military procurements of electrical equipment, and represents a significant cost in the procurement process. The problem is that the outcome of expensive tests required by MIL-STD-461 have become predictable inmany cases of electric motor procurement. If the outcome of tests is predictable with high confidence, then clearly the tests should be eliminated and money saved. Imposing test requirement on aoo equipment destined for installation aboard submarines without allowing exemption for "like" equipment, particularly motors used as stand alone devices or those used in support of hull and mach8inery equipments, significantly increases the overall cost of the submarine.