System level EMC - from theory to practice

This article discusses the vast importance of incorporating electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) engineering as an inseparable part of system engineering in a complex, technologically-advanced, tight-scheduled military project, starting from the project proposal stage (in response to a request for proposal-RFP), down to co-siting impacts tests in the platform. The project´s product is defined as an operational prototype. On one hand, this prototype proves the system´s functional properties as were specified by the customer, while on the other hand serving as a first article that is required to withstand all of the environmental conditions as a serially-produced system, including full EMC requirements. The unique system which is being addressed here has multiple, diverse capabilities and is comprised of elements and units belonging to various families, e.g., electronic boxes, electro-optical units, inertial sensors, functional display, computer, etc. The units are based on home-developed and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) units (military as well as civilian/industrial). Furthermore, we present the methodology that was employed to minimize problems/failures during system EMC tests, in both the laboratory and after installation in the platform.