Determining Which Coaxial Cables to Use on Military Vehicles

Originally published with Defense Advancement

Times Microwave Systems discusses the factors to consider when selecting coaxial cables for military vehicles from frequency range, temperature, to environmental considerations, and details its own range of products with their features.

Radio Frequency (RF) technology plays a critical role in military vehicle applications, providing essential communication, navigation, and targeting capabilities. Selecting appropriate coaxial cables for these military vehicles depends on several factors, including frequency range, power handling capability, and environmental conditions. Military-grade coaxial cables need to meet stringent requirements for durability, reliability, and performance.

Important factors to consider when selecting coaxial cables for military vehicles include:

• Frequency range: Choose a coaxial cable that supports the frequency range required by the communication or radar systems used in the vehicle. For example, if the system operates in the VHF and UHF bands, select a cable that can handle these frequencies with minimal signal loss.
• Power handling: Ensure that the cable can handle the power levels required by the vehicle’s communication or radar systems. High-power systems may require low-loss cables with better power handling capabilities.
• Temperature: Ensure the cable can handle the temperatures of the vehicle and environment. Higher temperatures may require cables with better temperature handling performance.
• Shielding: Military-grade coaxial cables should provide excellent shielding to minimize signal interference and ensure reliable communication. Double or even triple-shielded cables may be necessary for applications where interference is a significant concern.
• Mechanical strength and durability: Cables used in military vehicles should be robust and able to withstand harsh environmental conditions, such as vibration, shock, extreme temperatures, and moisture. Look for cables with ruggedized construction, including high-quality materials like military-specification connectors and abrasion-resistant outer jackets. For applications that will frequently bend and move cables, consider cables designed to endure high flexure. Armored cables will have higher connector retention strength, increasing their durability.
• Flexibility: Depending on the vehicle’s configuration and cable routing requirements, you may need a coaxial cable with high flexibility to accommodate tight bends and complex routing paths. Stranded center conductors offer increased flexibility but poorer insertion loss performance.
• Environmental considerations: Common military environmental specifications to keep in mind include the type of cable jacket, IP67 or similar ratings on connectors, and if a cable needs to be rodent repellent.

When selecting coaxial cables for military vehicles, it is essential to consult the system specifications and guidelines to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Always work closely with cable manufacturers and system engineers to determine the best solution for your specific application.

Times Microwave Systems Cables for Military Ground Vehicles

TCOM

The TCOM cable series has a foam dielectric and a silver-plated copper strip braid outer conductor. This allows these cables to withstand several thousand reelings on a diameter at least 20 times the cable diameter. The FlexStrand versions, with a stranded center conductor, have a lower bending moment and a longer bend life. A wide variety of connector types is available.

LMR Series

Our flagship LMR cables are suitable for applications up to 6 GHz and provide excellent shielding and low signal loss. They are flexible, lightweight, and offer better performance than traditional RG series cables.

QEAM

The ultimate cable design for field deployable application is the Quick Erecting Antenna Mast

 (QEAM) cable. This cable series is designed specifically for use in demanding, mission critical applications, where reeling and unreeling are required over a wide temperature range. Based on our

 MilTech aerospace cable assemblies, these assemblies are fully weather sealed and constructed in accordance with some military standards. Heavy-duty stainless-steel connectors provide long term corrosion resistance and ruggedness.

PhaseTrack Low Smoke

The PhaseTrack Low Smoke (PTLS) microwave assemblies are low-smoke, zero-halogen cable assemblies designed for confined spaces such as ships and submarines. These assemblies provide exceptional phase temperature performance while meeting HF through K band frequency requirements, including an optimized version for minimum loss in Ku band.

MaxGain

MaxGain is an ultra-low loss, flexible microwave coaxial cable designed for higher frequency applications with a full range of connectors available as fully tested custom cable assemblies.

Bundled Cables

A bundled cable solution can help create the perfect flexible antenna jumper for applications requiring multiple runs. This design enables four or five individual cables to be fed into the back of an industry standard MQ4/MQ5 bundled connector, incorporating multiple RF ports and significantly reducing the number of cables that have to be hooked up.

Speciality Connectors

Military ground vehicle applications can require a variety of specialty connectors. IP-67 rated connectors don’t look any different from our other LMR connectors, but the dielectric is a different material to achieve the IP-67 rating. Black coupling nuts are used in applications where ground vehicles must have low observability. They eliminate the reflection of sunlight off the metal connectors, which is ideal for applications where increased stealth is key.

Speciality Cable Jackets and Armor

The harsh conditions endured by military ground vehicles can call for specialty cable jackets, from armored cables to increase durability to neoprene jackets designed to withstand chemical washdowns.