TEST & EVALUATION · STANDARDS
Standards and references for RF test and evaluation
This is a reference index of the public standards and regulations that govern radar, electromagnetic compatibility, and spectrum test and evaluation. Each entry links to its issuing body, the source of record. The list is a neutral map, not an endorsement and not a compliance checklist. Designations and revisions are current as of the review date below, and some standards are available only from the issuing body. Confirm the current text against the linked source before relying on it.
Radar
Radar definitions and measurement
IEEE Std 686-2024
Radar Definitions ↗IEEE SA. Standard radar terminology, including the letter band designations (L, S, C, X, and onward). The reference vocabulary that the other documents on this list assume.
IEEE Std 1502-2020
Radar Cross-Section Test Procedures ↗IEEE SA. Recommended practice for measuring radar cross section on a test range, covering range types, calibration, and the measurement process. The standard behind the scatterer-method explainer.
EMC and E3
Electromagnetic compatibility and effects
MIL-STD-461G
Control of Electromagnetic Interference ↗Department of Defense, via the DLA ASSIST repository. Interface and verification requirements for controlling EMI emission and susceptibility at the subsystem and equipment level. Revision G, 2015.
MIL-STD-464D
Electromagnetic Environmental Effects for Systems ↗Department of Defense, via DLA ASSIST. The E3 requirements at the full-system and platform level, covering EMC, lightning, EMP, and hazards of radiation to ordnance. Revision D, 2020.
ANSI C63.4-2014
Measurement of Radio-Noise Emissions ↗ANSI and IEEE. Methods of measuring radio-noise emissions from low-voltage electronic equipment, 9 kHz to 40 GHz. The test method the FCC references for Part 15 unintentional-radiator compliance.
Airborne
Airborne equipment environment
RTCA DO-160G / EUROCAE ED-14G
Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment ↗RTCA, with the European equivalent EUROCAE ED-14. Environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment, including temperature, vibration, lightning, and EMC sections. Widely referenced in FAA and EASA equipment approval. Revision G is current, with revision H in process.
Spectrum
Spectrum authorization and management
47 CFR Part 5
Experimental Radio Service ↗FCC, via the eCFR. The rules for testing and experimenting with radio equipment that radiates into open air, including the anechoic-chamber exemption at 5.7(g). Covered in the licensing explainer.
NTIA Manual (Redbook)
Federal Radio Frequency Management ↗NTIA. The manual governing federal use of the spectrum, including provisions for testing and evaluation of electronic-attack equipment and for coordination at federal test ranges. 2021 edition with January 2023 revisions.
ITU Radio Regulations, 2024
International Spectrum Allocation Framework ↗ITU. The international treaty allocating radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits across services and regions. Edition of 2024, incorporating the results of WRC-23 and in force since January 2025.
Simulation
Modeling, simulation, and interoperability
IEEE Std 1516-2025 (HLA 4)
High Level Architecture, Framework and Rules ↗IEEE SA. The framework and rules for federating distributed simulations. Revised in 2025 as HLA 4, adding cloud and container readiness and a new federate protocol. Relevant where a hardware-in-the-loop bench joins a larger simulation federation.
IEEE Std 1278.1-2012
Distributed Interactive Simulation, Application Protocols ↗IEEE SA. The DIS application protocols, defining the protocol data units that simulations exchange, including the distributed emission regeneration family used for radar and emitter modeling.
Method
How this index is maintained
Every entry points to the issuing body rather than a mirror or a reseller, names the revision verified as of the review date, and is chosen for relevance to RF and radar test and evaluation rather than to any product or vendor. Where a revision is in process, the entry links to the version-stable program page so the reference stays correct as the document updates.
On this site
Where these standards apply
The documents above anchor the explainers on hardware-in-the-loop radar testing, the threat-emulation scatterer method, and RF test licensing and FCC Part 5. The spectrum reference tracks the bands and proceedings themselves.
Rogue River Tech curates, aggregates, and summarizes public information on RF and test and evaluation. This index is a general reference, not legal, licensing, or compliance advice, and not an endorsement of any standard. Standards are revised and access terms vary, so confirm the current designation and text against the linked primary sources before relying on them. Last reviewed 2026-06-26.