MIL-STD 810 (Military Standard) is a United States military standard regulating the level of protection of equipment against various environmental effects (vibration, moisture, shock, temperature, etc.). It is commonly applied to subscriber radio communication equipment. First issued by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1960s, the MIL-STD 810 standard has undergone several revisions. The latest version, MIL-STD 810F, was released in 2000. The standard contains a series of provisions that are typically cited when referring to compliance (e.g., MIL-STD C/D/E/ compliance).
The MIL-STD 810F standard includes a set of guidelines and test methods to determine the resilience of equipment to natural environmental stresses in both military and commercial applications.
Below is a description of the standard and tests that determine the product’s quality level and its ability to operate in adverse environmental conditions:
Shock
The durability of a radio largely depends on its resistance to shocks (including repeated impacts) and jolts (especially when installed in a vehicle), which can disable the device. When testing for shock resistance, test levels should be as close to real-world conditions as possible, and all surfaces of the product should be subjected to impact.
| Feature | Requirement | Test method (MIL-STD 810F) | Report |
| Mechanical shock | Powered on: 20 g, 11 ms, half-sine Powered off: 40 g, 11 ms, half-sine |
Method 516.5 | Test conducted with the device powered on. No loss of operability detected. |
| “Jolt” shock | 75 g, 11 ms, half-sine | Method 516.5 | Test conducted with the device powered on and mounted in a vehicle. No loss of operability detected. |
Vibration
The durability of a product is significantly influenced by its resistance to vibration, which determines its ability to withstand continuous vibration effects (especially when installed and used in a vehicle). Prolonged vibration can affect processor operation and lead to system failure. Vibration testing should simulate real-world conditions as closely as possible, including scenarios such as being mounted in an off-road vehicle.
| Feature | Requirement | Test method (MIL-STD 810F) | Report |
| Vibration (out of vehicle) | Constant vibration 0.04g^2/Hz, 20Hz–1000Hz -6dB / active, 1000Hz–2000Hz Illustration 514.5C-17 | Method 514.5 | Test conducted with the device powered on. No loss of operability detected. |
| Vibration (in vehicle) | Off-road vehicle simulation Illustration 514.5C-3 | Method 514.5 | Test conducted with the device powered on. Temporary, acceptable loss of function with automatic recovery, without user intervention. |
Resistance to environmental factors
Durability is also determined by resistance to “contaminants” (dust and moisture) and other environmental factors such as fog, salt exposure, and solar radiation.
| Feature | Requirement | Test method (MIL-STD 810F) | Report |
| Relative humidity | 0% to 95% (+3/-5%) humidity, 23°C to 60°C, 10 cycles of 48 hours | Method 507.4 | No moisture ingress detected. |
| Solar radiation | 1120 W/mx (355 Btu/ftx/h) UVB @ 50°C, 7 cycles of 24 hours | Method 505.4 | No fading or deformation detected. |
| Rain | Wind-driven rain, 10 liters/mx/hour, 4 cycles | Method 506.4 Procedure I | No water ingress detected. |
| Rain | Large drops, 7 gal/ftx/h | Method 506.4 Procedure III (Drip) | No water ingress detected. |
| Sand and dust | Particle size <149 xm, 10 ± 7 g/mx, particle density 1.5 m/s at wind speed 8.9 m/s | Method 510.4 Procedure I (Dust storm) | No sand or dust ingress detected. |
| Fog and salt exposure | 5% saline for up to 48 hours (12 hours wet, 12 hours dry, 2 cycles) | Method 509.4 | No corrosion or moisture ingress detected. |
Temperature
Durability also depends on the ability to withstand extreme temperature changes during operation (especially when used outdoors or installed in a vehicle), which could cause failure.
| Feature | Requirement | Test method (MIL-STD 810F) | Report |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to +60°C | Methods 501.4, 502.4 | No functional instability or data loss detected. |
| Storage temperature | -40°C to +75°C | Methods 501.4, 502.4 | No data loss detected. |
| Thermal shock | >1.5°C <5°C/minute, -20°C to +60°C | Tested for one cycle | No functional instability or data loss detected. |
Compliance with MIL-STD 810F testing is mandatory for all U.S. and NATO military equipment.
Related sections:
IP (Ingress Protection) durability standard