Challenges of the naval electromagnetic environment for the EMC engineer

A naval ship has a dense electromagnetic environment onboard due to the presence of myriad electrical, electronic and electromechanical systems within a limited amount of space. These systems are expected to perform to their design potential based on which the ship's roles and missions are decided. However, mutual electromagnetic interference (EMI) between these systems degrades equipment performance, sometimes to such an extent that one or more of these systems are rendered operationally unavailable. Such a reduction in reliability and availability of mission-critical systems can prove detrimental to the success of a mission. Therefore, operational availability of the varied systems onboard at optimum performance will require containment/control of electromagnetic interference through achieving electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) within and between these systems. The dense EM environment encountered by the onboard systems is created, to a major extent, by these systems themselves. The situation is compounded by the rapidly changing trends, wherein, emitter powers are increasing, while receivers are becoming more sensitive. The cumulative frequency spectrum occupied by these systems range right from DC to 40 GHz. All these equipment are installed in close proximity to each other because of the inevitable space constraints onboard warships. Achievement of EMC is a practical requirement, and has to be ensured through correct EMC engineering practices at all stages of a ship's design, production, installation and operation. This paper discusses the challenges faced by an EMC engineer due to the peculiarities and daunting requirements imposed by the naval EM environment. It also highlights the need for effective implementation of the various EMC practices that are essential to ensure/enhance the operational availability of the electrical/electronic systems onboard, in the EM environment in which they are made to operate. It seeks to infer that reliable operational performance of equipment onboard in consonance with other co-located equipment is inevitably linked to their mutual electromagnetic compatibility, and achieving the latter goes along way in ensuring the former.