Defense

MIL-STD-461G Tests: What CE102, RE102 and RS103 Mean

The naming logic of the MIL-STD-461G tests that military equipment must pass, and the most requested CE102, RE102 and RS103 tests, in plain language.

3 min readOctober 21, 2026Kemar EMC Engineering Team

The Naming Logic

Each test in MIL-STD-461G is named with a code of two letters and three digits. The first letter shows the test type: C for conducted, R for radiated. The second letter gives the direction: E for emission, S for susceptibility.

So CE means conducted emission, RE radiated emission, CS conducted susceptibility and RS radiated susceptibility. The digits distinguish different frequency ranges and methods within the same group.

CE102 and RE102

CE102 measures the noise a device sends back onto its power lines between 10 kHz and 10 MHz. On military platforms many devices share the same power bus, so one device's noise can easily affect others.

RE102 measures the electric field a device radiates between 10 kHz and 18 GHz. Limits vary by the platform the device will be used on; different curves are defined for aircraft, ships and ground vehicles.

RS103: Radiated Susceptibility

RS103 tests whether a device can withstand the strong fields created by nearby radar and communication transmitters. Against the few V/m of civilian standards, field strengths of up to 200 V/m may be required here.

Generating fields at these levels takes powerful amplifiers and a well-designed chamber. The chamber's absorber layout and size directly affect how efficiently the required field is achieved.

Chamber and Test Setup

MIL-STD-461G tests are performed in a shielded, absorber-lined chamber on the copper-clad test table described by the standard. Cables are laid at specified heights and lengths, and LISNs are bonded to the table.

Chamber size is determined by the largest device to be tested and the platform type. You'll find size options on our MIL-STD-461 test chamber page and the decision steps in our planning article.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tests are in MIL-STD-461G?

The standard defines close to twenty tests, but not every device is subject to all of them. Which tests apply is set by the platform and the contract.

Can a civilian EMC chamber be used for MIL-STD-461?

For some tests, yes, but the test table, grounding and absorber layout must be adapted as the standard requires.

How powerful an amplifier does RS103 need?

It depends on the required field strength, frequency and antenna distance. Amplifier needs are calculated together during chamber design.

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Anechoic Chambers

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