MIL-STD-461 RE102

RE102, part of MIL-STD-461, assesses the radiated electromagnetic emissions from electronic equipment or subsystems across a broad frequency range—typically from 2 MHz up to 18 GHz, depending on the application domain (e.g., ground, shipboard, aircraft). It focuses on ensuring that the Equipment Under Test (EUT) does not emit excessive electromagnetic energy that could interfere with nearby systems in mission-critical or high-reliability environments.

In a typical RE102 setup, the EUT is placed in a shielded or semi-anechoic chamber, and one or more antennas are positioned at prescribed distances to capture radiated emissions over the required frequency band. The EUT is powered and operated in its normal modes—or worst-case operational modes—so that any potential emission source is active. A spectrum analyzer (or other suitable receiver) scans the defined frequency ranges while the EUT cycles through representative operating conditions. Any emissions that surpass the specified limit lines in MIL-STD-461 are recorded, indicating the need for further investigation or mitigation measures such as improved shielding, filtering, or grounding.

Compliance with RE102 is essential for equipment used in defense, aerospace, and other high-stakes industries, as it helps prevent harmful interference with co-located systems such as communications, navigation, and control equipment. By demonstrating conformance to RE102 requirements, manufacturers and end-users can be confident that their electronics exhibit controlled electromagnetic emissions, thus reducing the risk of malfunction or degraded performance in complex operational environments.