scope:

The purpose of this document is to promulgate technical and engineering parameters in the form of mandatory system standards and optional design objectives that are considered necessary to ensure interoperability and promote compatibility and commonality among Satellite Communications (SATCOM) systems. It is also the purpose of this document to establish a level of performance for SATCOM systems considered necessary to satisfy the requirements of a majority of users. The technical parameters promulgated by this document represent, in general, minimum interoperability and performance characteristics, which may be exceeded as required in order to satisfy specific requirements.

It is not the purpose of this document to serve as a stand-alone, comprehensive reference containing all requirements and technical details required for the design of new equipment. Therefore, parameters for such items as size and weight limitations, connectors, cable assemblies, or power supplies are not contained in this document. Such parameters and other design details are to be established, based on specific requirements, and should be carefully tailored in accordance with the policies of Department of Defense (DOD) Directive (DODD) 4120.21.

It is also not the purpose of this document to inhibit advances in communication technology. Such advances are facilitated by not specifying the technology that should be used in the design and development of SATCOM systems to meet the required standards.

This document is not intended to be an engineering textbook or a reference handbook for SATCOM systems. It is assumed that the users of this document have a basic technical background in the design and engineering of SATCOM systems.

This document applies to the design and development of long-haul and tactical SATCOM systems. It does not consider the baseband components of a SATCOM system, as these are covered by other standards. In addition, this standard is applicable, but not mandatory, for the upgrade of existing facilities. Standards for parameters applicable to non-Government owned facilities, leased services, or services provided under published tariffs are outside the scope of this standard. Additional standards for longhaul and tactical systems appear in MIL-STD-188-100 and MIL-STD-188-200.

The main objectives of this document are to ensure interoperability between and among long-haul and tactical SATCOM systems consistent with military requirements; to provide a degree of system performance acceptable to a majority of users of SATCOM systems; and to achieve the necessary degree of interoperability, performance, and compatibility in the most economical way.

The parameters and other requirements specified in this document are mandatory system standards (see Appendix) if the word "shall" is used in connection with the parameter value or requirement under consideration. Non-mandatory design objectives are indicated by parentheses after a standardized parameter value or by the word "should" in connection with the parameter value or requirement under consideration. For a definition of the terms "System Standard" and "Design Objective," see Federal Standard 1037A (FED-STD-1037A).