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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
a COTS+ device or a component
carrying DSCC approval might not
offer the performance they need.
Lee Thompson, Director
Industry Marketing, Europe,
Defence, Aerospace & Space
for TTI.
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 63