MIL-STD-461H Published: Updated DoD EMC Standard

The U.S. Department of Defense released MIL-STD-461H on April 17, 2026, superseding MIL-STD-461G (2015). The new revision introduces targeted updates to EMC test requirements for electronic, electrical, and electromechanical equipment and subsystems on land, air, sea, and space platforms.

Key updates and clarifications:

• CE101 — Applicability extended from 10 kHz to 20 kHz for surface ships and submarines. Aircraft applications remain capped at 10 kHz, including Army aircraft and Navy aircraft with ASW equipment.

• Emission measurement scanning — Synthesized or step-tuned measurement receivers must now step in one-quarter bandwidth increments or less (previously one-half), roughly doubling the minimum number of measurement points per scan. Table II also no longer includes the analog-tuned measurement receiver column.

• Overload precautions — Checks must now be performed and documented for each measurement setup (previously specified as periodic checks).

• Cable construction §4.3.8.6 — Restructured into three distinct subsections separating construction of input power leads, construction of interconnecting cables, and arrangement of EUT cables.

• CS101 — Test equipment options expanded with differential probe and ripple detection transducer as alternatives to the previous isolation-transformer approach for oscilloscope-based measurements.

• RE101 — New procedural notes on frequency spectrum subdivision for adequate resolution and per-signal test location selection.

• RE102 — Antenna boresight orientation now explicitly defined: front surface parallel to EUT test boundary, elevation parallel to floor, and azimuth perpendicular to setup boundary.

Links:

• Download MIL-STD-461H (PDF)

• MIL-STD-461H Testing Services