EMI—The Enemy Within

Abstract

ABSTRACTElectromagnetic interference (EMI) is one of the major contributors to mission degradation in our fleet today due to the increase in population and sensitivity of both topside and below deck electronic systems. Sensitive combat systems designed to counter intelligent and deceptive targets can be confused by the complex intra‐ship EM environment. This can cause identification failure or losing “track” of a hostile or incoming missile or even engaging “friendly targets.”Topside design and integration efforts have been used to reduce EMI, but this is not the total solution to the problem. A program of total ship and system EMI assessment and control must be implemented. This program must exploit electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) optimization in electronic circuit design and take advantage of and (in some cases) direct topside shapes and structures to control the propagation of desired and undesired EM energy. Positive and active control of EM design characteristics are absolutely required before optimum combat system effectiveness can be realized.This paper will describe the current topside design process, EMC improvements being made, and how the process is being integrated into, and is dependent upon, the ship design process. It will give examples of some of the major mission degrading EMI problems in the fleet today and how past problems were solved with existing EM analysis programs. It will also discuss the control of EM energy in new design through the use of techniques being developed such as ray tracing and ray casting.The paper projects where the challenges lie for future topside and EM engineering designers and describes how the equipment technology transfer process must be better integrated to meet the challenge of effective EMI control.