MIL-STD-187-31O
FOREW08D
1. Electrical performance standards for the Defense Communications
Systsm (DCS) are contained in the MIL-STD-188-1OO and 300 series of
documents. These standards, which apply primarily to today’s analog
system, contain performance values which must be within the state-of-
the-art and based on measured performance of actual equipment and
circuits .
Since standards are the basis for specifying equipmsnt to
be procured or reprocured for use in the DCS, they provids assurance
that new equipment will perform satisfactorily and interface properly
with other equipment in the DCS.
2.
At present, the standardization coverage of the DCS is fairly com-
prehensive. lhis is due to the relatively stable configuration of the
DCS since completion of the major switched subsystems, which has per-
mit ted standards development to “catchup.”
Currently, however, the DoD
is entering a period, of perhaps ten years or more, during which mnny
major changes are planned in the DCS. Unless some modification is
made to the DoD standards program, standards will continue to be
developed essentially after-the-fact, and will be of little help in
planning and designing these forthcoming changes.
Accordingly, the
standardization effort is being expanded to include the development
of “future” or planning standdrds for the DCS.
These standards are
being developed at an earlier date than, and are to be forerunners of,
conventional standards.
3. DCS Planning Standards contain characteristics which apply to the
evolving and future DC S. Performance values assigned to these charac-
teristics may meet the same criteria as conventional standards, i.e.,
proven by measured performance, etc. , or they may be based on best
technical judgment of what is needed for the future.
In some cases,
performance values have not been determined as yet and their definition
maY depend upon the completion of related studies or 8DT&E programa.
This category of unknown performance values serves to idsntify and,
in a sense, reserve these areas until agreed-upon values can be
established. This tends to preclude unilateral decisions by designers
that might preempt the opportunity of making a better choice later on.
4. Planning standards provide uniform guidance for the design of the
evolving and future DCS.
Providing this guidance at the concept
engineering stage will help to minimize ineffective designs and costly
fnteroperability problems at later stages of implementation, as well
as assuring utilization of appropriate advances in technology.
Also ,
establishing a reference source of design guidance will: minimize
unilateral design dec:lsionsby one project engineering group; pinpoint
areas where design decisions are needed; facilitate the comparison and
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