Defense Spectrum Management. New Procedures Could Help Reduce Interference Problems

The Department of Defense DOD has become increasingly aware that the use of more commercial and military electronic systems aboard ships, aircraft, and vehicles can cause unintended electromagnetic interactions among systems, resulting in adverse operational impacts. Such unintended interactions are called electromagnetic environmental effects and many interference incidents have already occurred that have limited mission effectiveness. For example, during recent operations in the Balkans, a jammer aircrafts engine shut down when it began transmitting jamming signals, and in Macedonia, electronic equipment experienced problems when hooked up to the local power grid. To help prevent frequency interference problems, DOD has written new procedures for spectrum management, including electromagnetic environmental effects, which are intended to improve its current guidance when acquiring new weapon systems and is in the process of implementing them. The new procedures are contained in DODs 5000 series directives, instructions, and regulations and provide mandatory policy and procedures for all DOD acquisition programs. Oversight of