How DoD Drone Testing Supports Long-Term System Reliability
The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies (ATS FoC) provides drone testing services to meet U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) reliability and performance requirements. DoD drone testing is used to validate how unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operate in military environments without interfering with electromagnetic interfaces (EMI) and to verify that onboard battery energy is used safely.
We assess UAS performance throughout its entire service life, from design and operation to degradation and failure analysis. Our drone testing services directly help support mission success and safeguards national security.
What does the DoD Require for Drone Qualification?
Through documented testing, the DoD requires drones to demonstrate compliance with military standards for environmental durability, EMI/EMC performance, battery safety, and system reliability in support of airworthiness and mission readiness.
At ATS, we evaluate drone batteries, materials, and electrical systems in accordance with MIL‑STD‑810 and MIL‑STD‑461.
Our DoD-Qualified Testing Capabilities
In controlled laboratory settings, our expert technicians perform DoD drone testing across a wide range of mission‑critical capabilities:
Environmental Testing (MIL-STD 810)
Defense drones must demonstrate their ability to survive and operate in real-world military environments, including harsh climates, challenging terrain, and extreme operational conditions.
Our state-of-the-art labs perform MIL-STD 810 testing to the following methods:
- 500.5: Altitude or Low Pressure
- 501.5: High Temp
- 502.5: Low Temp
- 503.5: Temperature Shock
- 504.1: Contamination by Fluids
- 505.5: Sunshine (Solar Radiation)
- 506.5: Rain
- 507.5: Humidity
- 509.5: Salt Spray / Salt Fog
- 510.5: Sand and Dust
- 512.5: Immersion
- 513.6: Acceleration
- 514.6: Vibration
- 516.6: Shock
- 517.1: Pyro Shock
- 519.6: Gunfire Shock
- 521.3: Icing / Freezing Rain
- 524.0: Freeze / Thaw
EMI/EMC Testing (MIL‑STD‑461)
Defense drones operate in dense electromagnetic environments alongside military radios, radar systems, and electronic warfare platforms, often in GPS‑denied conditions. As a result, UAS must demonstrate compliance with Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements applicable to military equipment.
We perform MIL-STD-461 testing using the following methods:
- CE101: Conducted Emissions, Lo Frequency
- CE102: Conducted Emissions, Hi Frequency
- CS101: Conducted Susceptibility, Power Leads
- CS114: Conducted Susceptibility, Bulk Cable Injection
- CS115: Conducted Susceptibility, Transient Spikes
- CS116: Conducted Susceptibility, Transient Spikes
- CS117: Conducted Susceptibility, Unintentional Radiator
- CS118: Conducted Susceptiblity, Personnel ESD
- RE101: Radiated Emissions, Magnetic
- RE102: Radiated Emissions, Electric
- RS101: Radiated Susceptibility, Magnetic
- RS103: Radiated Susceptibility, Electric
Battery Testing (UN 38.3 & RTCA DO)
Most military UAS rely on lithium‑based, high‑energy batteries that are exposed to extreme temperatures, vibration, and shock, making battery testing essential to verify safe operation, energy reliability, and mission‑critical deployment readiness.
We test drone batteries to the following standards:
- UN 38.3: Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
- RTCA DO 311a: Rechargeable Batteries
- RTCA DO 227: Non-Rechargeable Bat.
- RTCA DO 293a: NiCd, Ni-MH, Pb Bat
Drone Endurance Under Extreme Conditions
Defense drones operate in operationally demanding environments and extreme stressors. DoD drone testing helps mitigate risks that can result in:
- Mission degradation or loss
- Compromised intelligence or data integrity
- Safety hazards to personnel or assets
- Program delays or requalification efforts
- Loss of certification or deployment approval
Trusted Expertise in Drone Testing
As a trusted partner of the U.S. military, we are committed to supporting defense institutions, companies, and contractors with a full range of testing, inspection, and consulting (TIC) services. Our trained engineers and technicians deliver military testing in accordance with ITAR regulations. Our commitment to quality and reliability is built on long-term partnerships and proven technical expertise.
ATS is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited and ISO 9001:2015-registered testing laboratory. Beyond the core DoD testing requirements, ATS can also perform drone-based analyses, such as electrical, materials, and mechanical testing to support complete system performance across the entire UAS lifecycle.
Contact Us
Ready to get started? To learn how our DoD drone testing services can support your next program, contact ATS today by submitting a web request form or calling us directly at +1 (888) 287-5227.
