PPM Test’s products enable users, designers and national authorities to test air, sea or land platforms in various EM environments.
The products support testing in a number of industries, particularly civil and military aircraft. We offer solutions for low level or full-threat testing depending on the test requirement.
Typical applications include:
- Low-level Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and clearance of aircraft
- High-Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF)
- Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shield verification tests
- Direct and Indirect lightning testing
- Directed-energy weapon testing.
Aerospace & Military Testing
Our RF over fibre links, D-DOT probes, current transducers and antenna are used extensively in the following standard tests:
DEF STAN 59-411: PART 4 – Electromagnetic Compatibility Part 4: Platform and System Test and Trials
This standard is for military platforms in the UK. Low-level Swept Current (LLSC) testing is used for 1-400 MHz and Low-level Swept Field (LLSF) for 100 MHz – to 18 GHz.
Before an aircraft “Release to Service” can be issued, a number of engineering assessments and trials – in accordance with Defence Standard 00-970 – have to be completed. These include theoretical studies and EMC trials of individual equipment, sub-systems and the complete aircraft in its various configurations.
EMC testing of the complete aircraft will normally involve a number of different techniques including Low-level Swept Current (LLSC), bulk current injection (BCI) and mode stirring, as well as full threat radiation. The extent of testing that is necessary depends on the aircraft type, its role and the technologies employed for its manufacture.
Our equipment is used to provide reliable measurement of loom currents and field strengths in the most consistent and low cost way possible. Innovative solutions for Fibre Management reduce the time to deploy and instrument a platform and a special “low noise” mode minimises the ERP (effective radiated power) required to achieve a reliable measurement.
EUROCAE ED-107A (European authorities) and SAE ARP5583A (US authorities)
These standards are for civil aircraft in the EU and USA using LLSC and LLSF test methods.
The standards provide technical guidance to demonstrate compliance with aircraft HIRF regulations. They may be applied to new aircraft, modification of existing aircraft and installation of existing systems on aircraft that have not previously used that equipment.
PPM Test products can be used to check shielding effectiveness of buildings and other critical infrastructure.
MIL-STD-188-125 and DEF STAN 59-188 – High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (Hemp) Protection for Ground Based Communication Facilities Performing Critical, Time-Urgent Missions Part 1: Fixed Facilities
This standard prescribes minimum performance requirements for low-risk protection from mission-aborting damage or upset due to High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) threat environments (defined in MIL-STD-2169B). The standard also addresses minimum testing requirements for demonstrating prescribed performance has been achieved and for verifying that the installed protection subsystem provides the operationally required hardness for the completed facility. These uniform requirements ensure balanced HEMP hardening for all critical facilities in the network.
A RF over fibre link is often used to enable the measurement of shielding effectiveness. The link gives a galvanic-free and pick-up-free connection from the receiving antenna to the transmitting antenna. The “low noise mode” allows a reduction in the radiated power required to make a measurement during CWI testing. The wide band and large input range make it possible to use the same equipment for high level current injection testing.
