What is MIL-STD (Military Standard) or MIL SPEC (Military Specification) ?

MIL-STD (Military Standard) or MIL SPEC (Military Specification) is a series of performance and manufacturing guidelines set by the US Department of Defense for military and commercial equipment and applications. These guidelines specify allowable parts and environmental condition ranges that a tool or other device must be able to operate in to meet compliance.

Some products will carry a MIL-STD-810E rating and others will state that their rugged notebooks are MIL-STD-810F compliant. The latest, MIL-STD-810G, is a revision of MIL-STD-810F and E. The tests and methods are the same but the results have been re-written to provide clearer direction. MIL-STD-810G testing is for a range of extreme conditions including 72" drops, shocks, vibration, humidity, altitude, rain-, dust- and sand-resistance, temperature extremes and thermal shock. Most rugged manufacturers have switched to providing ruggedness testing information using MIL-STD-810G, but some still cite the older standard.

MIL-STD-810 test method is used to generate confidence in the environmental worthiness and overall durability of material system design. The testing process follows guidelines which include program documentation, program roles, test standards and laboratory test method guidelines for all categories. The laboratory test methods are broken down into 24 categories. Learn More...