New-Tech Europe | December 2016 | Digital Edition

a COTS+ device or a component carrying DSCC approval might not offer the performance they need.

C: Testing per MIL–PRF–55681 PDA 8%, DPA per EIA–469, Humidity per MIL–STD–202, Method 103, Condition A Various other manufacturers have COTS+ programs including Amphenol, AVX, Harwin, Honeywell, Souriau, TE, TT and Vishay. DSCC Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC) qualification is another way to address the issue of needing to use approved parts that are latest generation technology offerings. In many ways it is very similar to MIL-STD, including being administrated from the same United States Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) site (Columbus, Ohio). Even more than that, DSCC approvals

very often reference MIL-STDs for testing and procedure. Where they differ is that they are much more flexible and quicker to implement. It is, for example, much quicker to bring on a DSCC standard for an increased capacitor voltage range – ie from 50V to 100V – than it would be under the MIL-STD scheme. So designers get to work with the latest technologies rather than having to wait for the standards to catch up. Currently there are DSCC approval covering passive and semiconductor parts, and it looks likely that it will migrate to cover electromech and connectors shortly. TTI works with a number of suppliers that offer parts for high reliability applications. We urge designers to look beyond the limitations of the MIL-STD portfolio to see whether

Lee Thompson, Director Industry Marketing, Europe, Defence, Aerospace & Space for TTI.

New-Tech Magazine Europe l 63