scope:

This handbook provides uniform guidelines for communications engineers, and installation, operation, and maintenance personnel who work with new fiber optic communications systems.

A discussion of system criteria establishes advantages and disadvantages of fiber optic systems, and whether fiber optics is appropriate to a specific communications task. After establishing system requirements, fiber optic components and their use to accomplish system criteria are discussed. Installation, testing, and maintenance are treated in later paragraphs.

This handbook is to be used to support the requirements stated in MIL-STD-188-111.

Lasers must comply with the requirements of MIL-STD-1425 and ANSI Z136.1-1980. DoDI 6050.6 and MIL-STD-1425 specify requirements for military-exempt lasers, such as those used in combat or combat training, or those classified in the interest of national security. Lasers used for other purposes, such as general communications, must comply with 47 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), Chapter 1, subchapter J.

Power supplies and other electronics used in fiber optic communications systems shall comply with requirements 1 and 8 of MIL-STD-454 and other applicable safety requirements of MIL-STD-454. Users should be aware that, although optical fibers themselves are not electrical conductors, fiber optic cables often include metallic strength members capable of conducting electric current.