Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Testing Service

Overview

The Blacktail Canyon Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) Test Facility (E3TF) conducts Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electromagnetic Capability (EMC), TEMPEST/NONSTOP, Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Environment (RF-EME), personnel level electrostatic discharge, grounding and bonding, Electronic Attack (EA) and other radio frequency (RF) related tests on sophisticated electronic systems. Anomalies are noted and upon request, investigated with rendered solutions made available for problem areas. The E3TF is the Army’s TEMPEST/NONSTOP tester.

Capabilities

  • Electromagnetic quiet, open area test sites
  • Transmitter sites
  • Controlled Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Military Electromagnetic Range: 2,500 square miles
  • Systems Tested:
    • Airborne, ground-based, waterborne platforms
    • Distributed systems of systems
    • Network-centric systems
    • Command & Control systems
    • Communications & Computer systems
    • GPS/Navigation systems
    • IEW systems
  • Anechoic Chambers:
    • Chamber 1:
      • 35’ x 14’ x 14’ (L x W x H) (useable volume)
      • Provides 120-dB RF isolation
      • Door size: Vehicle (12’ x 14’) (W x H); Personnel (4’ x 7’)
      • Capable of accommodating military equipment ranging from manpack portable equipment to vehicles such as HMMWV, M113, Suburbans and sheltered systems
    • Chamber 2:
      • 22’ x 12’ x 9’ (L x W x H) (useable volume)
      • Provides 100-dB of RF isolation
      • Door size: Personnel (4’ x 7’) (W x H)
      • Capable of accommodating compact man portable military equipment
    • Chamber 3:
      • 16’ x 12’ x 12’ (L x W x H) (useable volume)
      • Provides 100-dB of RF isolation
      • Door size: Personnel (4’ x 7’) (W x H)
      • Capable of accommodating smaller, bench-size test items such as computer systems and GPS
    • Chamber 4:
      • 56’ x 20’ x 17’ (L x W x H) (useable volume)
      • Provides 120-dB of RF isolation
      • Door size: Vehicle (18’ x 18’) (W x H); 2 Personnel (4’ x 7’) (W x H)
      • Capable of accommodating large vehicles such as tanks, armored personal carriers, helicopters and multiple shelters or large platform systems
      • Realistically stimulate SUTs using EPG’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers & Intelligence (C4I) ToolKit
      • MIL-STD-461
      • MIL-STD-464
      • RTCA/DO-160
      • ADS-37A-PRF
      • NTISSAM TEMPEST/1-92
      • NTISSAM TEMPEST/1-93
      • CNSSAM TEMPEST 01-02

Expertise

  • Over 80 years of combined E3 system testing experience covering multiple stages of development, from early research and development to deployment and post-deployment system modification.
  • E3TF qualified staff include Certified TEMPEST Professional Level II and International Association of Radio and Telecommunication Engineers (INARTE)/Electromagnetic Capability (EMC) Engineers.
  • The E3 Team is available for technical consultation and test monitoring, providing review and input on specifications, procurement documentation and test plans.

Value

The E3TF stimulates systems under test (SUTs) for realistic testing to identify and assess anomalies in order to provide recommendations for fixes or workarounds for the Warfighter.