What is a Military Standard Part?
When procuring components, one may see many different designated standards. Military standard parts in particular often confuse some, especially when deciding which part is best for their needs. Oftentimes, some may even face trouble discerning the difference between a military standard part and a similar component that is not. In this blog, we will discuss what a military standard part is, and the history behind them.
In general, a military standard part, also referred to as MIL-STD or MIL-SPEC parts, are simply components that meet requirements set out by the US Department of Defense in order to meet the objective of standardization. Through this, the interchangeability, compatibility, and common functionality of many parts can be achieved. There also exists a difference between a military specification and a military standard. A military specification refers to how the component operates, as well as its physical properties. Military standard, on the other hand, refers to how the component was made and what materials were used to manufacture it.
The history of military standards can be traced back to the 18th and 19th century, as the American and French militaries were proponents for standardizing parts for interchangeability. Most militaries and alliances around the world had also begun standardization themselves by WWII. This was spearheaded through historical examples such as in WWII where fasteners would work for equipment in America, but not for Britain.
In regards to the United States, if a part is considered military standard, it often means that the rights to the design is owned by the government, and various companies can then compete when manufacturing them to the set regulations. There are also various handbooks that are available as resources for information and instruction for meeting these requirements.
At Aviation Axis, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find aircraft seating parts you need, new or obsolete.
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