What Is MIL-STD-2073 Packaging?

MIL-STD-2073 refers to the military packaging standard that provides guidelines on packaging and preservation methods. It’s one of the many standards the Department of Defense has developed for packaging and shipping military equipment and supplies.

More specifically, this standard:

• Defines how items should be packaged based on their characteristics and sensitivity to the environment and how they’re transported.
• Specifies preservation methods to ensure items aren’t impacted by corrosion, moisture, and other hazards.
• Provides requirements on identifying and labeling MIL-STD-2073 items.
• Describes procedures for selecting the right materials and containers for items covered under MIL-STD-2073.

The standard also defines two specific levels of packing: A and B.

Levels of MIL-STD-2073

A (Maximum)

If items are categorized as Level A under MIL-STD-2073, this means that they need the highest level of protection to withstand:

• Moisture, corrosion, extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and contamination.
• At least six months in storage without the need for constant maintenance or inspections.

Level A items typically require high-quality barrier materials, waterproof, and vaporproof packaging, and sometimes cushioning and corrosion-inhibiting preservatives. They’re also generally shipped in hermetically sealed containers or waterproof crates.

B (Intermediate)

Level B items need moderate protection and are not intended to be protected against extended storage or extreme environmental conditions. These types of items might be packaged in barrier bags, corrugated fiberboard boxes, fast-pack containers, or domestic wooden crates with corrosion inhibitors or desiccants as needed.

Minimal

If an item doesn’t have a designated level, it’s referred to as “minimal,” meaning it doesn’t need as much protection as Level A or B items.

Items Covered Under MIL-STD-2073

This standard covers a wide range of military items that need specialized packaging for storage, shipment, or handling. These could include electronic assemblies, aircraft components, mechanical parts and assemblies, medical equipment, and communication navigation equipment, but are not limited to just these items.

Key Aspects

• Items that require MIL-STD-2073-compliant packing include those:
  • Delivered during wartime for deployment or sustainment to operational units.
  • Depot-level repairables.
  • Requiring reusable containers.
  • Being shipped by sea.
  • Relevant to Security Assistance/Foreign Military Sales/Grant Aid.
• Contractors must reference the DoD’s reference chart when determining which military packaging requirements to follow based on transportation methods and environmental conditions.
• There are different methods of preserving items. There will be optional procedural indicators (A, E, M, O, and P) assigned to the items that will identify which procedures should be followed.
• Packaging and handling requirements for hazardous materials are regulated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Maritime of Dangerous Goods (IMDG), Code of Federal Regulations (Titles 29, 40, and 49), Interservice Publications AFMAN24-204/TM 38-250/NAVSUP PUB 505/DLAI 4145.3 (for air shipments), and Joint Manual DLAR 4145.41.
• The Quantity per unit pack (QUP) is determined by Appendix B of MIL-STD-2073, container guidelines are outlined in Appendix C, and any military packaging parts that need to be kitted should follow guidelines outlined in Appendix D. For example, if a contract requires items to be shipped in bulk, it will be identified within the contract. Packaging partners are not to go against the required QUP.
• Loose fill material is prohibited except if it’s being used for absorptive purposes for certain hazardous materials.
• Cushioning materials or isolators are required to prevent physical damage during shipment and storage and must be as close to the item as possible. A non-corrosive wrap is required between the item and any corrosive cushioning material.
• There are guidelines for permittable maximum energy during transportation based on certain fragility factors.
• There is no issue using new packaging materials or products as long as they meet or exceed the protective capabilities of the approved materials in MIL-STD-2073 and won’t increase costs.

Main Components

MIL-STD-2073 ultimately sets detailed requirements for three primary requirements: packaging, preservation, and packing.

Packaging

Packaging is essentially the first step in military packaging and covers the design of the materials that will protect the item being shipped. There are several elements of this component:

• Containers, which are selected based on the item’s weight, fragility, and sensitivity. Reusable containers are allowed as long as they adequately protect the item per standard.
• Barrier materials, like waterproof, watervaporproof, or moisture-barrier materials, to prevent environmental damage.
• Cushioning, like foam inserts and padding, to protect the item from movement, shock, and vibration.
• Marking and labeling, as outlined by MIL-STD-129 standards. Depending on the item, additional labeling may be required (as outlined in MIL-STD-2073).

Preservation

Preservation is the second stage of the military packaging process and focuses on protecting the item against corrosion, deterioration, and contamination during transport or long-term storage. Items are cleaned, dried, and preserved. Some items may need to be wrapped or cushioned.

MIL-STD-2073 outlines five methods of preservation:

• Method 10: Physical protection
• Method 20: Preservative coating
• Method 30: Waterproof protection
• Method 40: Watervaporproof protection
• Method 50: Watervaporproof protection with desiccant

Method 10 is required for all items and must be verified through several performance tests, but other required preservation methods will be outlined in the contract or purchase order.

Packing

The final step of mil-spec packaging is packing. This stage involves understanding how the item will fit into the built packaging.

As explained, there are two primary levels of packing: A and B. Level A needs the most protection for both transportation and long-term storage, while B only requires moderate protection for controlled environments and domestic transport. In this stage, bracing and cushioning items are added, straps are added to keep the containers in space, and the containers are marked for easy identification.

How to Stay Compliant

If you don’t follow the required standards when packaging and shipping military items, those items will be rejected and returned to the sender. In some cases, the contractor will also need to spend extra money to repackage the items and potentially reimburse the government for an additional cost. So, lack of compliance will ultimately result in shipping delays for critical items and extra fees for the contractor.

The best way to stay compliant is to work with a military packaging expert. They can help you:

• Understand the contract, including QUP, required preservation methods, and packing level.
• Source materials (this can get expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing!)
• Design and build compliant containers.
• Create MIL-STD-129-compliant labeling.
• Understand special requirements for hazardous materials.
• Perform quality inspections via MIL-STD-2073 standards.
• Coordinate with your designated shipping provider to ensure your shipments are delivered safely.

Start Your Project With Export Corporation

Export Corporation has been helping military contractors for over 70 years. Our team can help you preserve items, engineer boxes and crates, and ensure compliance not only with MIL-STD-2073, but also with other standards, including MIL-DTL-6060E, MIL-DTL-197N, MIL-PFR-131k, and more. We also hold several certifications and registrations to ensure quality, including ISO 9001, ISPM-15, ITAR, and SAM.

Visit our website to learn more about our capabilities, or contact us today to discuss your project.