MIL-DTL-38999 Series I circular connector | Vibration resistant | Salt spray resistant | High temperature resistant | Waterproof | Shockproof military circular connector，Aerospace Plug&Socket, MS27467T23B43PA

Product Overview

MS27467T23B43PA is a MIL-DTL-38999 Series I circular connector built as a straight plug in shell size 23, with the B olive green cadmium finish, 43 contact layout and A keying. It is the cable-side half of a ruggedized plug-and-socket pair, designed for avionics, defense electronics, vehicle systems and other assemblies where a commercial circular connector would be out of place. The shell is metal, the interface is sealed, and the contacts are arranged for stable signal and power transfer in a compact circular body.

The connector is intended for cable assembly builders, panel integrators and maintenance teams who need a repeatable connection that can be inspected, mated and repaired without special tooling on the bench. It pairs with the matching Series I receptacle and backshell, and it can replace a worn or obsolete part when the shell size, contact layout and keying match the drawing. If you are comparing it with a commercial part, check the plating, sealing and contact system rather than the outline alone.

As a mil-dtl-38999 connector manufacturer, we supply this family for programs that need a documented, mil-spec-style interconnect rather than a generic circular plug. The plug is supplied as part of a broader Series I range, so the same shell, contact and accessory logic carries across positions and cable assemblies.

For waterproof circular connector wholesale orders, this mil-dtl-38999 series i connector is a practical choice when the assembly has to stay sealed, stay mated and stay serviceable after repeated handling. The straight-plug body gives the cable assembly a compact bend radius, while the threaded coupling and keyed shell give the installer a clear, repeatable mating action.

Contact System & Termination

Material Composition & Construction

The shell is aluminum alloy, with cadmium plating for corrosion resistance. The insert uses a PTFE-based composite dielectric, chosen for stable electrical properties in a compact contact spacing. Contacts are beryllium copper alloy C17200. On the mating face, the green contact insert sits inside a keyed metal shell, with a blue sealing ring and a knurled grip ring that help the installer seat and tighten the plug by hand. Plating Specification Contacts carry 50 microinches of gold over 100 microinches of nickel underplate. The nickel layer provides a barrier under the gold, and the gold surface keeps contact resistance low through repeated mating. If your drawing calls for a different shell finish, confirm the finish code against the B option before release. Termination Type This mil-dtl-38999 series i connector uses solder cup contacts for a robust, gas-tight joint. Solder cups suit cable assembly shops that prefer a permanent solder joint and field teams that need to repair a cable without a crimp tool. The trade-off is that the joint depends on soldering skill and strain relief, so use the correct wire gauge and inspect the cup after soldering. Hybrid Contact System The contact system combines power and signal contacts with optimized geometry to prevent signal cross-talk. That matters when a single circular interface carries both control signals and power, because the contacts are spaced and shaped to keep the channels separated inside the insert. For an aerospace plug socket connector, the contact system is only as good as the cable assembly behind it. Confirm the wire gauge, solder cup size and backshell entry before you build the cable, and tell us if your assembly needs a different contact code from the series key.

Performance Advantages

• Vibration resistance for moving platforms: The threaded coupling and retained contact insert keep the interface seated under the MIL-STD-202 Method 204 vibration profile. This is a vibration resistant circular connector for airframe, vehicle and field-mounted equipment.
• Shock tolerance: The metal shell and retained insert resist mechanical impact, so the connector does not rely on a plastic housing to hold contact alignment.
• Shielding across the RF range: The conductive shell and grounded mating interface provide shielding effectiveness from the MHz range up to 10 GHz, reducing EMI in dense avionics and control enclosures.
• Stable signal transfer: The contact geometry is chosen to keep insertion loss low and impedance stable across the mated interface, which matters when the circuit carries sensitive signals rather than simple power.
• Repeated mating without degradation: As a mil-dtl-38999 connector manufacturer, we rate the connector for 500 mating cycles minimum, so it can support test benches, maintenance loops and repeated reconnects without turning every cycle into a retirement decision.

Sealing & Environmental Protection

Environmental Sealing

The plug is sealed at the connector interface and cable entry with conductive elastomer gaskets. When mated with the proper backshell, it meets IP68 requirements, so dust and water ingress are controlled at the interface rather than left to the cable bundle wrap. This is a waterproof military circular connector for wet, wash-down and marine-exposed assemblies, and the blue sealing ring on the mating face is part of that sealed interface. Hermetic Sealing For an aerospace plug socket connector, hermetic sealing is tested to 15 psi differential. That is the value to check when the assembly crosses a pressure boundary or sits on the vacuum side of a system. If your program needs a specific leak rate or a certificate with the part, confirm the hermetic version and documentation with our team before ordering. Salt Spray & Water Exposure The metal shell and cadmium plating are selected for corrosion resistance, and the product is a salt spray resistant connector for coastal, marine and de-icing exposure. Salt spray resistance is not a reason to skip maintenance: inspect the coupling threads and sealing ring at service intervals, and keep the protective cap on unmated plugs. The IP68 rating applies to the complete mated assembly, not to the plug on its own.

Quality & Traceability

Life Cycle Traceability

As a military circular connector supplier, we laser-etch a serial number on each connector, so a field return, test record or production batch can be tied back to the unit. That is useful when a program audits a build years after delivery, or when a maintenance team needs to compare a replacement against the original.

Quality Assurance

Every unit goes through 100% electrical continuity testing, automated optical inspection for contact alignment, salt spray testing per ASTM B117 for 500 hours, thermal shock cycling from −65 °C to +200 °C for 10 cycles, and insert retention force verification at 70 N minimum. For a salt spray resistant connector, the ASTM B117 run is the check that ties the finish and sealing choices to a repeatable test rather than a visual claim.

For waterproof circular connector wholesale programmes, these checks stay in the production flow, so the part that arrives at your bench has already been measured, not just assembled. If your quality team needs a certificate, a test report or a specific inspection record with the shipment, tell us at the quotation stage so the documentation can be prepared with the order.

Installation & Mating Control

1. Fit the backshell: The connector is compatible with EMI filter backshells (M85049) without performance compromise. Match the backshell to the cable entry, strain relief and shielding requirement, and confirm the thread and accessory code before assembly.
2. Check the keying: The shell is keyed and the contact insert is color-coded. Line up the keyway with the receptacle before the threads engage.
3. Seat the plug: Push the plug fully into the receptacle without using the coupling to pull it in.
4. Tighten the coupling: As a mil-dtl-38999 connector manufacturer, we recommend tightening the coupling by hand until the plug is fully seated. Do not force a cross-threaded coupling.
5. Inspect without tools: The keying system gives a visual check of proper mating. That helps maintenance teams catch a cross-mated pair before power is applied.
6. A correct plug with the wrong cable entry can still leak, so inspect the complete termination.

Applications

• Avionics and flight systems: Flight control, navigation and communication racks use this style of sealed circular interface where a compact, keyed plug has to stay seated under vibration.
• Military ground vehicles: ECU interconnects and sensor networks benefit from the metal shell, threaded coupling and sealed contact chamber in mobile and dusty conditions.
• Satellite and payload interfaces: The straight-plug form gives cable assembly builders a compact cable-side connector for payload and test assemblies that are handled during integration.
• Industrial robotics: High-vibration cells and moving axes use a vibration resistant circular connector to keep sensor and control signals stable without relying on a plastic latch.
• Medical imaging equipment: MRI and CT interconnect cable assemblies can use the sealed, keyed interface where a repeatable mate and a clean contact surface matter.
• Undersea and marine monitoring: This waterproof military circular connector suits pressure-housing and deck-cable interfaces when the mated backshell is specified for the cable entry.
• Field repair and retrofit: Maintenance teams can replace a damaged cable-side plug without changing the panel receptacle, provided the shell size, contact layout and keying match.

Specifications

Ordering & Delivery

1. Confirm quantities: Flexible MOQs. Share annual demand and release quantities so we can confirm whether the configuration is supplied from stock or built to order.
2. Confirm delivery: Stable global delivery. Confirm the current schedule for your destination and the Incoterm that applies to your order.
3. Confirm lead time: Production lead time depends on the configuration, finish and quantity. Ask your sales contact for the current lead time before you commit a build date.
4. Confirm payment: Orders are typically confirmed with a deposit, with the balance before shipment; T/T is the usual method. Confirm the exact terms on your quotation.
5. Confirm packing: Standard export packing is used. If you need a specific label, pack quantity or carton mark, confirm it with your sales contact.
6. Confirm samples: Ask your sales contact about sample availability and terms for the exact shell, contact and termination you need.
7. Supplier check: As a military circular connector supplier, we check the part number, finish, contact style and backshell against your drawing before the order is released.
8. Wholesale order check: For waterproof circular connector wholesale orders, confirm the mating backshell and cable entry at the same time as the plug so the sealed assembly is specified as one unit.
9. - Look-alike risk: A circular connector can match the outline and still differ in plating, insert material or contact retention. We confirm those details against the drawing rather than the photo.
   • Mating risk: Shell size and keying are checked together, because a plug that fits the thread but not the keyway will not mate correctly.
   • Sealed assembly risk: The backshell and cable entry are reviewed with the plug, because a sealed plug on an open cable entry is not a sealed assembly.
   • Drawing-led support: As a military circular connector supplier, we compare your drawing, panel cut-out and cable entry against the shell, contact layout and keying before release.
   • Wholesale programme review: For waterproof circular connector wholesale programmes, the plug, backshell and cable entry are quoted as one system so the seal is not split across suppliers.
   • Program support: For repeat builds, we keep the shell, contact and backshell combination consistent so a replacement is not a new design.

Technical Support & Model Matching

Selecting the right connector is rarely a one-line decision. Send us your drawing, part number or a sample, and our engineering team will confirm the matching shell size, contact arrangement, coupling and mounting style, cross-reference discontinued or alternate part numbers, and advise on sealing and flange options for your environment. We also help troubleshoot fit, mating and signal problems, and give installation and commissioning guidance so your line stays up. As a direct manufacturer, our answers come from the people who build the parts — from first enquiry through after-sales support.

FAQ