MIL-STD-188-125-2

MIL-STD-188-125-2 extends the guidance and requirements found in MIL-STD-188-125-1 to transportable and relocatable ground-based systems, ensuring they can maintain operational integrity when subjected to a High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) event. While MIL-STD-188-125-1 focuses on fixed facilities, this companion standard addresses the unique challenges faced by systems that must be deployed, moved, or reconfigured in the field.

Key elements of MIL-STD-188-125-2 include:

1. Shielding and Grounding for Mobile Assets

   • Specifies methods for constructing shielded enclosures and integrating grounding techniques that can withstand the electromagnetic stresses of HEMP, even when equipment is regularly repositioned.

2. Entry Point and Cable Protection

   • Addresses transient suppression for cables, conduits, and waveguides that enter the transportable enclosure, emphasizing the need for robust surge arrestors and filters to prevent pulse energy from damaging internal systems.

3. System-Level Testing and Certification

   • Requires rigorous verification—such as pulse current injection and field-testing—to validate that protective measures remain effective under real-world deployment conditions.
   • Ensures that multiple protective subsystems (e.g., shielding, grounding, filtering) operate together cohesively.

4. Deployment and Sustainment Considerations

   • Defines inspection routines and periodic testing schedules to confirm that mobile systems remain compliant after transport or redeployment.
   • Emphasizes the need for maintenance procedures that preserve the integrity of shielded enclosures and entry-protection devices over time.

5. Mission Continuity Under HEMP

   • Ensures that systems integral to command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) operations can be rapidly deployed without sacrificing protection from extreme electromagnetic environments.
   • Reduces the risk of compromised functionality during critical missions in harsh or unpredictable theaters of operation.

By adhering to MIL-STD-188-125-2, organizations and defense contractors demonstrate a commitment to robust, mobile HEMP protection, ensuring that transportable systems can withstand and recover from high-intensity electromagnetic events, regardless of their operating location.