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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 |
Background Of MIL-STD-461G
In 1960, the US Department of Defense (DoD) introduced a comprehensive initiative known as the Defense Radio Frequency Compatibility Program, which was later renamed the Electromagnetic Compatibility Program. This program aimed to refocus the research and development (R&D) efforts of the Military Services towards the integration of electromagnetic compatibility into military communications-electronics equipment during the R&D phase.
In 1966, personnel specializing in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) from the three military departments collaborated to create standards addressing the interference reduction requirements across the entire Department of Defense. This collaborative endeavor reached its culmination in 1967 with the issuance of Military Standards 461, 462, and 463.
This milestone led to the replacement of approximately 20 basic and subsidiary specifications. Military Standard 461 primarily outlined requirements, while Military Standard 462 specified the measurement methodology. Definitions and acronyms were housed in Military Standard 463. Significant revisions were deemed necessary, leading to the release of MIL-STD-461A in August 1968. This standard gained acceptance across the joint services and found adoption in numerous other countries.
Over time, the various military branches, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy, identified areas of dissatisfaction with the standard, prompting the issuance of multiple revisions by each of these services until 1989. One of the most noteworthy revisions was the "Pink Copy" issued by the Army.
Additionally, MIL-STD-461 also encompasses High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) testing for equipment across a wide range of military systems. This entails elevated levels for radiation susceptibility testing and includes the "Bulk Current Injection" test.

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 461 Testing
Test | Test Description |
---|---|
RE101 | Radiated Emissions, Magnetic Field, 30 Hz to 100 kHz |
RE102 | Radiated Emissions, Electric Field, 10 kHz to 18 GHz |
CE101 | Conducted Emissions, Power Leads, 30 Hz to 10 kHz |
CE102 | Conducted Emissions, Power Leads, 10 kHz to 10 MHz |
RS101 | Radiated Susceptibility, Magnetic Field, 30 Hz to 100 kHz |
RS103 | Radiated Susceptibility, Electric Field, 2 MHz to 40 GHz |
CS118 | Conducted Susceptibility, ESD, Contact ±8KV |
CS101 | Conducted Susceptibility, Power Leads, 30 Hz to 150 kHz |
CS106 | Conducted Susceptibility, Spikes, Power Leads |
CS109 | Conducted Susceptibility, Structure Current, 60 Hz to 100 kHz |
CS114 | Conducted Susceptibility, Bulk Cable Injection, 10 kHz to 200 MHz |
CS115 | Conducted Susceptibility, Bulk Cable Injection, Impulse |
CS116 | Conducted Susceptibility, Sine Transients - Cables, 10 kHz to 100 MHz |

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.

MIL-STD-810G
MIL-STD-810G is a United States Department of Defense standard that specifies environmental test methods and engineering guidelines to assess the durability and performance of military equipment in various challenging conditions. This standard covers a wide range of environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, vibration, and shock, providing a comprehensive framework for testing and validating the resilience of military systems.
- MIL-STD-810 Method 501.5: High Temperature
- MIL-STD-810 Method 502.5: Low Temperature
- MIL-STD-810 Method 507.5: Humidity
- MIL-STD-810 Method 514.6: Vibration
- MIL-STD-810 Method 516.6: Shock