Automated measurement of aircraft-level electromagnetic interference

Automated testing for electromagnetic compatibility, which allows continuous sweeping across all frequency bands at sensitivities below -120 dBm in a timely manner, is addressed. This method eliminates frequency gaps and reveals interference that may have been missed by the previous testing method. It also identifies each signal and its corresponding magnitude. The method determines accurately the frequency, amplitude, and modulation type at the input to the receiver. With this information, it is known whether significant degradation in the victim receiver will occur and, if so, its extent. Data from an aircraft test show that equipment failing to meet MIL-STD-461C REO2 emissions requirements in the radio band generally causes interference to the receiver. Often the interference is not detected during a radio check but does degrade the operational range of the receiver. This result indicates that the current REO2 limits are realistic and should be enforced strictly