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MIL-STD-461 EMI/EMC Requirements and Test Methods Table

MIL-STD-461 defines the electromagnetic interference control requirements for subsystems and equipment. This table gives the requirement codes you see in every EMC test plan, so you can decode a statement of work or a lab quote quickly.

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Requirement	Title	Type	Coupling
CE101	Conducted Emissions, Audio Frequency Currents, Power Leads	Emission	Conducted
CE102	Conducted Emissions, Radio Frequency Potential, Power Leads	Emission	Conducted
CE106	Conducted Emissions, Antenna Terminal	Emission	Conducted
CS101	Conducted Susceptibility, Power Leads	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS103	Conducted Susceptibility, Antenna Port, Intermodulation	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS104	Conducted Susceptibility, Antenna Port, Rejection of Undesired Signals	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS105	Conducted Susceptibility, Antenna Port, Cross-Modulation	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS109	Conducted Susceptibility, Structure Current	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS114	Conducted Susceptibility, Bulk Cable Injection	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS115	Conducted Susceptibility, Bulk Cable Injection, Impulse Excitation	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS116	Conducted Susceptibility, Damped Sinusoidal Transients, Cables and Power Leads	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS117	Conducted Susceptibility, Lightning Induced Transients, Cables and Power Leads	Susceptibility	Conducted
CS118	Conducted Susceptibility, Personnel Borne Electrostatic Discharge	Susceptibility	Discharge
RE101	Radiated Emissions, Magnetic Field	Emission	Radiated
RE102	Radiated Emissions, Electric Field	Emission	Radiated
RE103	Radiated Emissions, Antenna Spurious and Harmonic Outputs	Emission	Radiated
RS101	Radiated Susceptibility, Magnetic Field	Susceptibility	Radiated
RS103	Radiated Susceptibility, Electric Field	Susceptibility	Radiated
RS105	Radiated Susceptibility, Transient Electromagnetic Field	Susceptibility	Radiated

Code prefixes: C = conducted, R = radiated, E = emissions, S = susceptibility. Which requirements apply, and at what limits, depends on the platform (aircraft, ship, ground, space) and is set by the procurement specification through the applicability table in the standard. Titles are given as commonly listed in revision G.

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How to read the codes

Every code is two letters and three digits. The first letter is C for conducted or R for radiated. The second is E for emissions (what your box puts out) or S for susceptibility (what your box can withstand). So CE102 is conducted emissions on power leads and RS103 is radiated susceptibility to an electric field. Use the search box to filter by letter pair, then export the rows that your specification calls up into your EMC test matrix.

Applicability and limits

Not every requirement applies to every item. The standard includes an applicability matrix keyed by platform, such as Army ground, Navy ship, aircraft internal or external, and space. Some requirements are included only for equipment connected to an antenna, and others for equipment with specific cable lengths. Limits can also be tailored. Check your Interface Control Document and the contract data requirements list for the final set before booking the chamber.

RE102 and CE102 drive most filter and shielding decisions
CS114 to CS116 stress cable shielding and input protection
RS103 needs a real field strength level from the specification
Plan a pre-compliance scan before formal lab time

Common mistakes

Teams book a lab before they have the final applicability list, then repeat testing after a customer adds a requirement. Another frequent issue is testing with an unrepresentative harness: cable type, length and routing affect results. Record the configuration, the cable drawings and the software load in the test report. Remember that a design change after test, even a new switching regulator, can invalidate results and may need a delta test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CE102 and RE102?

CE102 measures radio frequency voltage conducted on the power leads. RE102 measures the electric field radiated from the equipment and its cables. A unit can pass one and fail the other, so both usually appear in a test plan.

Which revision of MIL-STD-461 should I use?

Use the revision named in your contract. Revision G is common on newer programs and added requirements such as CS117 and CS118 compared with earlier revisions. Older programs may still cite E or F.

Do commercial products need MIL-STD-461?

Only if the customer specifies it. Defense primes often flow it down to suppliers. Commercial off-the-shelf items sometimes need a delta test to the cited requirements before they are accepted.

Does the table list limit lines?

No. Limit lines depend on platform and installation and come from the standard's figures plus any tailoring in your specification. Use this list to identify the methods, then take the limits from the controlling document.

Netray can tie EMC test reports and approved configurations to your item master and revision control. We can scope that in your own ERP when you are ready.

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