Table Of Contents
Key Points
- RFI is a growing problem that poses a particularly high risk to military and defense devices.
- RF absorbers shield devices from RFI in multiple contexts, including electronic warfare and unintentional RF exposure.
- Modus Advanced works with only the best materials to make the best RF absorbers in the industry.
Engineering and manufacturing for military and defense applications come with their own sets of highly stringent requirements. For the vast majority of fields, you can truthfully say that your design decisions are not life-or-death, but the military and defense space is not one of them.
The tiniest details can render devices and parts dangerous or impossible to use. No problem makes that fact more apparent than the issue of radio frequency interference (RFI). RFI is a problem that is multiplying exponentially as RF technology becomes more ubiquitous around the world, and when it affects military devices, the results can be catastrophic.
The solution? RF absorbing materials and parts. The unique materials used to make these parts are filled with metals that absorb or reflect RF signals to keep military and defense devices working well. In this post, we’ll take a close look at the applications of RF absorbers in military and defense devices. Read on to learn more.
Modus Advanced maintains a large team of experienced engineers to ensure that every part we produce is perfectly in line with the most stringent specifications. That includes military specifications. Contact us to learn more.
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The Purpose of RF Absorbers in Military Applications
RFI comes from a wide variety of sources, many of which are present in even the most remote environments imaginable. That means RF absorption is a constant consideration for military and defense devices.
The idea is to block the radio signals — traveling through the air or via conduction — from reaching and interfering with sensitive parts of any military device, whether it’s a satellite, missile defense system or vehicle. Because so many military devices rely on radio and electromagnetic frequencies to function, interference from external signals can interfere with that function.
In other words, RF absorbers prevent interference that can cause military and defense devices to fail or malfunction, which in a very real way could prevent the loss of life.
Uses for RF Absorbers in Military and Defense
How, exactly, RF absorbers are used in military and defense applications depends on the unique requirements of the device or application. But in most cases, devices in this industry will need to protect against the following problems associated with RFI:
Unintentional External Interference
Radio signals are everywhere. Everything from the smartphone in everyone’s pocket to the radio towers dotting the world’s landscapes produces radio signals, and every single signal poses a risk to any device that might be sensitive to this kind of interference.
The vast majority of RFI is unintentional, but its results are the same whether it is intentional or not. In any case, RF absorbing materials can block out external RFI in rapidly changing environments with different levels of exposure.
Interference Between a Device’s Parts
Sometimes, RFI can come from within a single device. If you have a military device with disparate systems that are both sensitive to and reliant upon radio frequency signals, this type of RF shielding may be a key consideration as you complete your design.
Electronic Warfare
Electronic warfare has been a concern in military and defense applications for a while now, and there’s no sign that this key area of consideration will fade in importance any time soon. Because so many devices used in military applications are sensitive to RFI, militaries and militants all over the world have seen the potential for RFI in electronic warfare.
RF absorbers tailored for defense against weaponized RFI must not only be perfectly solid, but of the highest quality to prevent any small measure of intentional interference from slipping through.
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Communications Interference
Whether the communication is from ground to air or battlefield to command, it’s important that the message comes through clearly. RFI can garble messages or add noise that makes them impossible to understand, which is why RF absorbers are a key consideration in military and defense communications applications.
Interference Due to Aging Systems
Some military and defense devices are intended to remain in use for years, but few engineers could have predicted the proliferation of RFI-producing devices in recent years. That means many aging parts and devices are now vulnerable to RFI because they were designed at a time when RFI was much less of a concern.
In such cases, it becomes important to retrofit existing parts with proper RF absorbers if you hope to keep them in service and functioning properly.
Modus Advanced: Military-Grade RFI Shielding
RF absorbers for military applications aren’t all the same. Their quality is all about design and manufacturing. That’s why you need military-grade manufacturing.
When you need military-grade RFI shielding, you need the manufacturing partner that military and defense contractors trust. You need Modus Advanced. Our experienced engineers will serve as comprehensive partners and resources for you from part concept to completion.
To get started, reach out to Modus Advanced. Give us a call at 925-960-8700 or contact us online today.