Astute Group to Launch Amphenol’s New 38999 Rhino Guard Connector for Military Vehicles

Amphenol’s new Astute 38999 Rhino Guard connector for military vehicles will be available from Astute Group as part of the initial release to the defence industry.

Part of Amphenol’s market leading 38999 product family, the 1000A-rated Rhino Guard is explicitly designed for high-power distribution applications within military vehicles to ensure dependable and safe operation.

“Astute will be among the first to offer the 38999 Rhino Guard connector to the defence community” said Peter Sullivan, Astute’s Technical BDM for Interconnect Solutions. “Rhino Guard is everything customers know and love about the classic 38999, with additional features developed specifically for military vehicles.”

Several key features set apart the new Rhino:

Single pole contacts deliver high current capacity.
High-voltage interlock loop (HVIL) sprung contacts ensure safe disconnection of high-voltage circuits before power connections are made or broken.
TALON touch protection ensures user safety.
Meets and exceeds market safety requirement.

A Brief History of the MIL-DTL-38999 Connector

The MIL-DTL-38999 connector traces its roots back to the 1930s, when the U.S. Department of Defense sought a standardised, robust connector for military applications. This led to the creation of the AN (Army-Navy) connector series. However, as technology advanced, the need for smaller, higher-density connectors arose.

In the 1970s, MIL-DTL-38999 was developed to meet this need. It offered several improvements over its predecessors, such as smaller contacts, higher density insert arrangements, and enhanced environmental resistance.

The MIL-DTL-38999 connector quickly became a mainstay in military and aerospace applications due to its reliability, durability, and versatility. Key contributors to its development included companies like Amphenol, whose then Scintilla division of the Bendix Corporation played a crucial role in shaping the initial MIL-C-38999 specification, which evolved into MIL-DTL-38999 Series I.

Over the years, the MIL-DTL-38999 standard has evolved, with several series revisions introduced to accommodate new technologies and requirements. Today, MIL-DTL-38999 connectors remain a vital component in a wide array of applications, from military vehicles and aircraft to industrial machinery and telecommunications equipment, highlighting their enduring legacy of performance and reliability.