EMI Control Instrumentation

The EMI Control Instrumentation Program is a Navy initiative under budget line item 2970, focused on ensuring mission assurance through comprehensive management of electromagnetic interference (EMI) across Navy platforms. The program is supported by several Navy offices, including OPNAV N2N6, N95, N96, N97, and N98, and is funded through the Other Procurement, Navy appropriation. Its primary objective is to implement cradle-to-grave systems engineering solutions that address EMI challenges by integrating both hardware and software fixes, as well as by procuring specialized test equipment for EMI characterization and mitigation.

MA004 - EMI (Hardware) Fixes targets the procurement and installation of hardware solutions designed to achieve electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) among shipboard electronic and electrical systems. The goal is to minimize interference that could impact operational effectiveness. Hardware fixes include radio frequency filters, limiters, transient protection devices, blankers, radar absorbing materials, and shielding methods. These solutions are selected based on the specific needs of deploying ships and submarines, with effectiveness evaluated prior to installation. The program is coordinated with OPNAV N95, N96, N97, and N98 to ensure alignment with fleet requirements.

MA104 - EMI (Software) Fixes focuses on software-based solutions for EMI mitigation, particularly when hardware fixes are impractical or insufficient. This line item funds the development and deployment of spectrum management procedures, frequency management techniques, and software modules that help eliminate or reduce EMI at the platform, strike group, or area of operation level. The program also supports the procurement of models, tools, and applications that facilitate real-time spectrum operations and frequency management, ensuring operational EMI is effectively controlled. These efforts are similarly coordinated with OPNAV N95, N96, N97, and N98.

MA204 - EMI Control Instrumentation provides for the procurement of specialized test equipment used to characterize and quantify EMI problems aboard Navy platforms. The instrumentation includes automated and specialized EMI test equipment for spectrum analysis and field intensity mapping, among other functions. These tools are essential for identifying EMI sources and assessing the extent of interference, enabling targeted corrective actions. The program also supports enhancements that streamline data collection, including remote access capabilities, and is managed by OPNAV N2N6.

The justification for the EMI Control Instrumentation Program is to ensure that Navy equipment, systems, and platforms meet operational mission requirements within their intended electromagnetic environments. By addressing EMI through both hardware and software solutions, and by equipping personnel with advanced test instrumentation, the program aims to safeguard mission-critical operations from disruptions caused by electromagnetic interference.

Budget allocations for FY 2026 reflect a funding decrease in line with government efficiency initiatives, specifically Executive Order 14222, which seeks to promote cost efficiencies across federal programs. The reduction affects all three major subcomponents hardware fixes, software fixes, and instrumentation procurement while maintaining the program's core objectives. The number of fixes and equipment procured each year is determined by fleet deployment schedules and evolving operational needs.