Ship Topside Integration and Electromagnetic Interference Control

Abstract

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is rapidly becoming one of the major contributors to mission degradation in the U.S. Fleet today. 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 control must be implemented that will span battle groups and be effective during joint operations before optimum combat system effectiveness can be realized. This paper gives examples of some of the major EMI problems in the fleet today. It discusses both intraship and intership EMI problems, how these problems arose, and how they might have been prevented through the use of techniques such as frequency management, equipment design, better element placement and improved cable shielding. It describes the current topside design process, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) improvements being made and traces the history of EMC requirements and their application to date. It also describes a developing program for managing ship topside arrangement configuration. The authors project where the challenges lie for future topside and EM engineering designers and describe how the equipment acquisition process must improve in order to meet the challenge of effective EMI control.