Defence Certification
Defence Safety and Standards
Laptops used by everyday consumers rest in relatively benign environments, indoors at room temperature, and rarely exposed to harsh weather like rain or snow. Military laptop users face much more extreme climates than the average desktop user and need a laptop to perform in harsh conditions. Warfighters also need mobile computing to work in the middle of nowhere, maintaining connectivity in remote locations.
Key Factors to Consider
The better the technology the soldier, airman, marine, or sailor has in the field, the better their decision-making and effectiveness. When deciding the right products for military and defense, you should be armed with the correct information that leads to better choices.
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MIL-STD Compliance - Rugged tablets for military applications must endure falls of several feet, water exposure, and glaring sunlight while maintaining performance. There are various military specifications these must meet to ensure end-users can survive in these environments. Ensure that the devices have been tested according to MIL-STD 810- G requirements against extreme environmental conditions - temperature, shock, vibration, and humidity. One more standard to follow is MIL-STD 461F to ensure that the product meets the control of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Ask your vendor which method was used to test the device, then after you receive a test report from the manufacturer, do not forget to do your testing.
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IP Rating - Ingress Protection (IP) rating or IEC standard 60529 is an essential part of any rugged device, measuring its level of protection against particles and liquid. Generally, the higher the score, the better the protection. If a device claimed to be military-grade, it should have IP protection—the choice of whether IP65 or IP67 depends on the needs of your application.
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Compatibility with Existing Military Environments - The MIL-STD-38999 type circular connectors, also called standard military connectors, withstand extreme shock, exposure, and vibration, are commonplace in defense and commercial applications are typically used in harsh military and aerospace environments. For smooth integration into existing military environments, rugged military-grade tablets should have military-qualified MIL-STD-38999 connectors with exceptional versatility for LAN/ USB 2.0, RS-232/ RS-422, and DC power input to enable effortless connection to military equipment.
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Sunlight Readability - Military mobile devices typically will be used outdoors where bright sunlight is a fact of life. A few technologies increase the LCD panel's quality, making it more sunlight readable. The first is an anti-glare solution on tablet glass that helps diffuse the glaring light, reducing its intensity. This makes it easier for the observer to see the correct image and provides perfect readability at extreme viewing angles. Another sunlight readability feature to look for when choosing a touchscreen.
All Winmate defence products are built and tested according to defence standards MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461.
MIL-STD-461G
MIL-STD-461G stands as the definitive military testing standard, laying out precise requirements for ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in devices and systems designed for and employed by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). Within the pages of MIL-STD-461G, a comprehensive suite of test procedures is meticulously detailed to adhere to the DoD's stringent regulations regarding electromagnetic emissions and susceptibility.
These test procedures are categorized into four distinct groups: radiated emissions (RE), conducted emissions (CE), radiated susceptibility (RS), and conducted susceptibility (CS). Each procedure is identified by a two-letter abbreviation followed by a specific code. For instance, RE103 designates a radiated emissions test procedure dedicated to evaluating antenna spurious and harmonic outputs.
Detection of illicit signals and electromagnetic interference assumes paramount importance in military operations, given that virtually every electronic device, from a common cellphone to a critical navigation component in a stealth jet, emits electromagnetic fields that could potentially jeopardize safety, operational efficiency, or secure communications.
To address this pressing concern, the DoD established the Electromagnetic Compatibility Program, with the overarching objective of integrating electromagnetic compatibility considerations into the research and development efforts of the defense industry. Over time, all three branches of the military have joined forces to develop updated and expanded iterations of the standard. This collaborative effort culminated in the latest version, MIL-STD-461G.
Notable changes implemented between MIL-STD-461F and MIL-STD-461G include the elimination of CS106 and the introduction of CS117 and CS118, signifying significant shifts and advancements in the realm of electromagnetic compatibility testing and standards.
| Equipment | CE101 | CE102 | CE106 | CS101 | CS103 | CS104 | CS105 | CS109 | CS114 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Ships | A | A | L | A | S | L | S | L | A |
| Submarines | A | A | L | A | S | L | S | L | A |
| Aircraft, Army | A | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | |
| Aircraft, Navy | L | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | |
| Aircraft, Air Force | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | ||
| Space Systems | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | ||
| Ground, Army | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | ||
| Ground, Navy | A | L | A | S | S | S | A | ||
| Ground, Air Force | A | L | A | S | S | S | A |
| Equipment | CS115 | CS116 | CS117 | CS118 | RE101 | RE102 | RE103 | RS101 | RS103 | RS105 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Ships | S | A | L | S | A | A | L | L | A | L |
| Submarines | S | L | S | S | A | A | L | L | A | L |
| Aircraft, Army | A | A | L | A | A | A | L | A | A | L |
| Aircraft, Navy | A | A | L | A | L | A | L | L | A | L |
| Aircraft, Air Force | A | A | L | A | A | L | A | |||
| Space Systems | A | A | L | A | L | A | ||||
| Ground, Army | A | A | S | A | A | L | L | A | ||
| Ground, Navy | A | A | S | A | A | L | L | A | L | |
| Ground, Air Force | A | A | A | A | L | A |
MIL-STD-461E/F
MIL-STD-461 is a United States Defence Standard that describes how to test equipment for electromagnetic compatibility.
Specifically,MIL-STD-461F details testing specifications to ensure the conducted emissions (CE), conducted susceptibility (CS), radiated emissions (RE), and radiated susceptibility (RS) of a system can meet the requirements for the control of electromagnetic interference.
- MIL-STD-461 Method - CE101/CE102: Conducted Emissions
- MIL-STD-461 Method - RE101/RE102: Radiated Emissions
- MIL-STD-461 Method - CS101/CS106/CS109/CS114/CS115/CS116: Conducted Susceptibility
- MIL-STD-461 Method - RS101/RS103: Radiated Susceptibility
MIL-STD-810F/G
MIL-STD-810 test series are approved for use by all United States Department of Defense (DoD).
The standard describes environmental management and engineering processes that can be of enormous value to generate confidence in the environmental worthiness and overall durability of a system design.
- MIL-STD-810 Method 501.4: High Temperature
- MIL-STD-810 Method 502.4: Low Temperature
- MIL-STD-810 Method 507.4: Humidity
- MIL-STD-810 Method 514.5: Vibration
- MIL-STD-810 Method 516.5: Shock
MIL-STD-810H
The "H" in MIL-STD-810H indicates that it is the eighth revision of the standard. Each revision of MIL-STD-810 incorporates updates and improvements based on advancements in technology and lessons learned from field experience.
MIL-STD-810H covers a broad range of environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, altitude, vibration, shock, acceleration, rain, sand and dust exposure, solar radiation, fungus, and more. The standard provides detailed testing procedures and performance criteria for each environmental condition, allowing manufacturers to assess and demonstrate the durability and reliability of their equipment.