The fiber optic connectors covered by this specification are intended for use in the following applications as specified (see 3.1) where their performance characteristics are required.

a. Fixed plant. Used in systems in fixed locations including indoor, outdoor aerial, direct burial, duct and undersea applications.

b. Tactical. Concerned with use in non-vehicular and mobile militarized systems.

c. Space. Which involves use in vehicles and/or systems deployed in outer space.

d. Avionics. Involving use in aircraft or missile systems.

e. Shipboard. Involving use in systems deployed in a sheltered uncontrolled mobile marine environment.

f. Ground vehicle. Involving use in land vehicular systems.

g. Other specialized military applications.

Special considerations for application categories. The following list is intended to serve as a reminder in generating a specification sheet. It is not all inclusive; however, it highlights some of the special considerations. Important to each application are specific requirements as follows:

a. Fixed plant.

(1) Inside (Plenum): Flame and toxicity, breakout.

(2) Aerial: Wide temperature range, solar radiation.

(3) Duct: Narrow temperature range, water immersion.

(4) Buried: Rodent protection, crush resistance.

(5) Submarine: High pressure tensile strength for recovery.

b. Tactical: Ruggedness, water freeze, zero bend radius, nuclear.

c. Space: Outgassing in vacuum (change in composition), low level radiation, extreme temperature range, and nuclear for military applications.

d. Avionics: High temperature, vibration, and altitude.

e. Shipboard: Watertight, non-watertight.

f. Vehicle ground: Flammability and toxicity.

Primary design considerations. The primary design considerations for this family of optical connectors are as follows:

a. Consistent and predictable optical performance.

b. Operational use in the field environment with a minimum of special handling procedures.

c. Suitable for operation, including mating and de-mating under the environmental conditions specified herein, without degradation of performance beyond the performance limits specified herein.

d. Simple design, having a maximum ease of repair and maintainability as specified herein.

e. A service life of 20 years consistent with the mating requirements specified herein.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). MSDS sheets will be available upon request.