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Armored Fiber Optic Cables

What is Armored Fiber Optic Cable?

Armored Fiber Cable is a type of tactical fiber optic cable that has an additional metal covering on top of the fibers to prevent fractures and corrosion from rodents, moisture, and other dangers.

OptoSpan’s exclusive SteelFlex and SteelPatch Armored Fiber Optic Cables are designed for mission-critical data center backbones, critical fiber to desktop connections, harsh environment communications, and rodent-proof applications. These highly flexible yet lightweight ruggedized fiber optic cables resist mechanical damage from crushing, abrasion, cutting, and pulling – which can easily damage fiber strands inside the cable. This creates a high-performance fiber optic network that is many times more reliable, with less downtime, than would be the case with the usage of standard fiber optic cables. OptoSpan’s steel armored tactical fiber optic cables are available for 10G, 40G, and 100G applications that require MTP/MPO, LC duplex fiber patch, and breakout cables.

When to use Armored Fiber Cables?

Armored Fiber Optic Cables are excellent for connections that require flexibility but cannot use an inflexible conduit. These armored cables can also be used to protect fibers in cable trays, improving the reliability of mission-critical fiber optic networks. With steel armor protecting the enclosed fibers, the fiber optic network links can withstand harsh environments, repeated bending, rodent attacks, and exposure to water – much better than standard fiber optic cables.

These armored cables are military-grade; and they are specifically designed for mission-critical networks in harsh environments, or for fiber optic links that can be mechanically damaged due to crushing or pulling during installation.

In particular, OptoSpan SteelFlex Armored Fiber Optic Cables feature an OptoLock mechanism, which prevents extra costs from being incurred by ordinary fiber optic cables deploying in conduit systems. Instead of looking for conduit for fiber optic cable, utilize SteelFlex Armored cables.

The glass fiber contained within the fiber cable is fragile, and while the cable has been designed to protect it, it is more prone to breakage than a copper wire. Use Armored Fiber Optic Cables to protect fibers and prevent network outages!

Click here for a helpful customer testimonial on OptoSpan's SteelFlex Armored rugged fiber optic cables: SteelFlex Youtube Video

Types of Armored Ruggedized Fiber Optic Cables

Do you need help choosing between OptoSpan’s SteelFlex and SteelPatch armored cables for your application? SanSpot’s network engineers can evaluate your unique situation and recommend a complimentary cable configuration that is suitable for your needs. Please feel free to contact us toll-free at 1-800-720-3860, or you can email [email protected].

SteelFlex Armored Tactical Fiber Optic Cables

SteelFlex Fiber Optic CableThese top-of-the-line military-grade fiber optic cables feature an exclusive OptoLock mechanism comprised of a steel tube, which is locked into position by overlapping links. SteelFlex Datasheet This composition results in an unmatched rugged but lightweight cable that provides maximum flexibility for easier handling and installation. These SteelFlex cables with the OptoLock feature will resist lateral pressure, swishing, and pulling; and they can withstand repeated bending, so the interconnects will not come apart under normal usage.

These lightweight and flexible cables are very easy to handle; and they are also much less difficult to install than regular fiber optic cables, which require installation in conduit systems and cable trays. Moreover, they are more cost-effective.

These pre-terminated armored fiber optic cables are ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, but they are especially suitable as outdoor armored fiber optic cable.

When should you choose SteelFlex Armored Tactical Fiber Cables?

If a fiber optic network is mission-crucial and you cannot afford downtime, then use SteelFlex Armored Fiber Cables, which are military grade fiber optic cables. Many current clients using these high-quality ruggedized fiber cables include leading data centers, wireless tower operators, military and aerospace professionals, industrial sites, transportation systems, medical imaging, and oil and gas fields.

Application Notes

SteelPatch Armored Rugged Fiber Optic Cables

SteelPatch Armored Fiber Optic CableOptoSpan’s SteelPatch Armored Fiber Patch Cables for the data center feature a specialized jacket constructed from steel, which is molded into a helical shape to shield the internal fibers. SteelFlex Datasheet This process allows SteelPatch armor to increase the cable strength by 5x, while remaining fully flexible and lightweight.

These lightweight and flexible cables are cost-effective, yet they are highly reliable alternatives to ordinary fiber optic cables in data centers and in fiber connections to desktops.

 

When should you choose SteelPatch Armored Fiber Patch Cables?

SteelPatch Armored Fiber Patch Cables are ruggedized cables that are excellent for usage in data centers and network backbones, as they are engineered to provide more than five times the strength of standard fiber optic cables. They are also ideal for fiber-to-desktop connections, which need exceptional reliability; and they are perfect as highly dependable trunk cables between data center racks, raised floors, and runs between floors and other high-traffic areas.

How flexible are Armored Fiber Optic Cables?

SteelFlex BendabilityOptoSpan’s SteelFlex and SteelPatch Armored Ruggedized Fiber Optic Cables are extremely flexible and lightweight. Therefore, both types of cables are suitable for any application where you are currently using ordinary fiber optic cables. The bending radius of either of these armored cables is similar or slightly higher than standard fiber optic cables.

Need Help? Get Answers from an MTP/MPO Experts

Typical Armored Fiber Optic Cable Configurations

Duplex Armored Cables

Armored Breakout Cables

Custom Armored Military Fiber Optic Cables

In addition to the above available configurations, OptoSpan offers Custom Armored Tactical Fiber Optic Cables that are designed specifically for your application.

Quality and Engineering Excellence

By utilizing our proprietary manufacturing process developed over 15 years of experience, we are able to produce higher performance products using the same components, hence lowering the cost to our clients. OptoSpan cables are made in a Class 10,000 (ISO14644-1, ISO7) clean room facility, which eliminates the potential of end face contamination.

Rohs Compliant

Quality Management Systems

  • ISO 9001: 2008
  • TL9000 (Ver. 5)

Standards Compliance

  • Telcordia GR-326 Core
  • TIA-604-18: FOCIS 18
  • IEC 61754-7-3:2019

OptoSpan fiber optic cables are RoHS compliant.

Cleaning and Testing Armored Fiber Optic Cables

Due to larger surface area and array of fibers, MPO connectors are more prone to contamination. OptoSpan recommends cleaning armored MPO cables before each insertion using these simple MPO cable cleaners. To clean the LC side, use the OptoSpan LC connector cleaner.

For troubleshooting armored MPO and duplex fiber cable connections (fiber breaks or defects) during installation, or for identifying faults during general use, OptoSpan offers a simple MPO fiber tester and Duplex fiber tester.


You might be interested in the following MPO Cables related products.

Are you looking for custom-designed armored military tactical fiber cables? Visit our section on Custom Armored Fiber Cables...
Do you require MPO/MTP patch panels that are compatible with armored MPO/MTP cables? Visit our Fiber Optic Patch Panels...
Need armored rugged MPO Cables? Our Armored MPO Cables...
Do you require the strongest MTP cables available in the industry? Visit our Armored MTP Cables section for more information...
For the highest performance armored ruggedized MTP Cables, go to this link... Armored MTP Elite Cables
If you prefer to use armored tactical LC-LC breakout cables... Visit our Section on Armored Breakout Fiber Cables...
Need IP68 (Weatherproof) and additional MTP Cable options? Visit our section on Specialty Fiber Optic Cables...
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