EMI Shielding in Defense Systems
As technology continues to evolve and integrate into our aerospace and military systems, EMI shielding has grown to be a critical consideration to protect the longevity of electronic devices and surrounding systems. Engineers have had to modernize their approach to designing electronics, accounting for countless sources of radiation to prevent system failure, data breaches and more.
In fact, all electronic devices generate radiation in some way, shape or form. Personal devices, lightbulbs, TVs and computers; electromagnetic fields exist all around us.
The development and integration of technology into nearly every aspect of our lives has made electromagnetic radiation ever more important to address. Without proper protection, electronic devices as common as smartphones or radios can generate emissions strong enough to compromise the functionality of surrounding systems. Damage can range from data breaches to signal interference and even hardware malfunction, none of which can be tolerated when it comes to our defense systems.
Critical equipment within our defense systems
Much of the critical equipment that exists within our defense systems has been in-use for several years if not decades. Due to the equipment not being designed to operate in proximity with modern electronics, the emissions from one device are likely to harm the other. This can result in failed systems, and in some cases, lives lost.
Electromagnetic shielding is critical to the functionality of our electronic devices in surrounding systems – in everyday electronics, and especially in our military and aerospace defense systems. We’ve outlined the most common defense system applications that are vulnerable to EMI and RFI, and the benefits that shielding provides to each.
Ground Vehicles
Ground vehicles such as tanks and militarized transport rely on EMI shielding to maintain and protect their infrastructure and devices inside. This includes engine components, weaponry, electronic devices and data. Due to their operation in volatile environments, EMI shielding is essential to protect the vehicle from harsh, threatening externalities.
Communication Devices
Like smartphones and tablets, man-portable communication devices used in defense system environments also require EMI shielding. If shielding is absent, the device is likely to suffer from interference, impacting the quality of communication and information transmission. Defense system technology must be equipped to function in volatile environments, and EMI shielding can provide protection from the elements for electronic communication devices.
Stationary Shelters
On-land, stationary shelters are commonly used in defense systems for mission control hubs and data storage. In these settings, the entire structure must be protected from external factors, down to gaps in the entry and structure. EMI shielding in this setting not only protects the shelter’s surrounding equipment and infrastructure, but it can also provide true shelter to people from radiation in the environment.
Avionics
While avionic settings have operated with interference from the environment for decades, the presence of internal devices within avionic systems continues to grow, thereby requiring EMI shielding. These devices may include flight recorders, navigation units, flight-control systems, radios and more, each of which needs to comply with EMI shielding requirements. Commercial aircrafts also have specificities around internal device shielding.
EMI shielding for defense systems is essential to protect equipment, data and people. However, it requires extremely sophisticated planning and preparation for the design and technicalities of the materials and applications involved. Our experts at KraFAB are eager to guide you toward the EMI shielding solution that makes the most sense for your application.
Contact our experts to learn more about EMI shielding solutions today.