Military Air Filters
Custom, Mil-Grade Air Filtration and EMI Shielding for Mission-Critical Systems
Custom Military Air Filters for Mission-Critical Performance
Comprehensive Protection
Universal Air Filter (UAF) understands the challenge of protecting sensitive military electronics from electromagnetic interference and contamination in extreme environments. Our custom, military grade filters are engineered to meet your exact requirements and built to sustain operational readiness wherever the mission takes you.
Universal Air Filter is a leader in the design and manufacture of fire-resistant, custom air-filtration systems with comprehensive protections for thermal management and particulate removal. Our cleanable solutions with extended meantime between maintenance intervals help to reduce downtime, ensuring operational availability of needed capabilities in demanding operating environments.
Custom Air Filter Solutions for Modern Military Applications
Universal Air Filter specializes in producing custom air filters engineered to the demanding requirements of military programs. We deliver reliable protection for your mission-critical systems to ensure uninterrupted performance across a wide range of applications:
- Missile Defense
- Unmanned Systems
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Unmanned Surface and Autonomous Surface Vehicles (USV/ASV)
- Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV)
- Drone-in-a-Box Systems
- Counter-Unmanned Systems
- Radar Systems
- Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing and Tilt-Rotor Systems and Sensors
- Command, Control, and Communications Systems
- Electronic Warfare Systems
- Containerized Applications
- Ruggedized Enclosures
- Rackmount Servers
- All other Mission-Critical Equipment
Air Filtration for Military Ground Vehicles
Military ground vehicles operate in some of the harshest environments. Dust, debris, vibration, and extreme temperatures threaten the performance and reliability of electronics and onboard systems.
Custom Engineered. Built to your requirements and optimized for your application.
Production Representative Prototypes. Rapidly developed using the same processes that support production.
Designed, Engineered, and Manufactured All Under One Roof. One team for accelerated development and improved communication, ensuring a seamless transition from prototype to production.
Military EMI Vent Shields
Military electronics need more than dust protection. UAF provides EMI vent panels, including FaraVent and FaraVent Duo, that shield sensitive enclosures while preserving the airflow those systems rely on to stay cool. We also engineer custom, ruggedized EMI vent assemblies and support shielded-enclosure design for your program.
Counter-UAS & Drone-in-a-Box Systems
Counter-UAS (C-UAS) platforms and drone-in-a-box systems pack sensitive electronics, sensors, and cooling into compact, often outdoor enclosures. UAF engineers custom air filtration and EMI vent solutions that keep dust and debris out while maintaining the airflow those systems need to stay cool and mission-ready, from prototype through production.
Experience You Can Trust
Since our founding in 1959, Universal Air Filter has been a trusted provider of air filtration solutions to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Our commitment to excellence is backed by decades of experience, and a team led by veterans who understand the unique demands of military operations. At Universal Air Filter, we take pride in delivering reliable, mission-ready solutions tailored to the unique requirements of military and government operations. When you work with us, you are partnering with a company that values service, precision, and trust.
Led by Those Who Served
From our President (US Navy) to our Director of Defense and Government Programs (US Marine Corps), supporting the military is in our DNA. Our leadership brings decades of firsthand defense experience to every program we support.
Matt Bartoe
President, Universal Air Filter
US Navy · Civil Engineer Corps
A Naval Academy graduate, Matt served as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the US Navy, including duty in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina, and led a detachment of Seabees to Cameroon to build an anti-piracy boat facility for Cameroonian Special Forces trained by US Navy SEALs. He later earned an MBA in Supply Chain Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and held multiple manufacturing leadership roles.
Jeff “Dr Evil” Rothstein
Director of Defense & Government Programs
US Marine Corps · 24-Year Naval Aviator
Jeff served 24 years as a Marine Corps Naval Aviator flying electronic warfare missions in the EA-6B Prowler, as an operator, instructor, developmental tester, and NAVAIR Deputy Program Manager. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from SUNY Buffalo and a Master’s in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, is a Class 131 graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School, and is DAWIA Level III certified in Program Management and Test & Evaluation.
Meet the full military leadership team →
Dedication, Commitment and Focus to Defense Customers
Supporting Defense is a deliberate commitment at UAF, reflected in how we structure our orders, our support, and long-term parts availability:
- Min Order Value (MOV) of just $500.00. This was done specifically for our Defense customers. MOV can be waived for test or down-selection.
- Full Product Lifecycle Support. We accept low volume orders, and ensure comprehensive support from research and development, testing, fielding, to operations and sustainment, providing the right expertise and resources when you need them.
- Obsolescence Risk Mitigation: We will continue to manufacture a filter for as long as the need exists. We also have the capability to reverse-engineer obsolete parts.
The UAF Difference
We pride ourselves on delivering innovative and customizable air filtration solutions that meet the most demanding military customer requirements.
Here is what sets our custom air filters apart:
- Customization: Our filters can be tailored to your exact specifications in terms of length, width, and thickness. For applications requiring a circular shape, we offer the unique capability to create filters in custom diameters and thicknesses, ensuring a perfect fit every time. Choose from fixed frames for a more rigid structure or flexible frames that offer the versatility to conform to outer mold lines.
- Superior Protections: We offer multiple solutions for particulate removal, thermal management, water protection (splashing water, wind-driven rain, etc.), corrosion from salt/fog, and EMI shielding.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Our air filtration solutions maximize airflow, reducing energy consumption and improving product and system efficiency.
- Compliance and Reliability: All products meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance, ensuring reliability and safety.
- Cost Effectiveness: Enhanced filter efficiency results in less frequent replacements and maintenance, thereby increasing ROI.
- Full Product Lifecycle Support: We accept low volume orders, and ensure comprehensive support from research and development, testing, fielding, to operations and sustainment, providing the right expertise and resources when you need them.
- DMSMS and Obsolescence Risk Mitigation: We will continue to manufacture a filter for as long as the need exists.
- American Made: All air filtration products are manufactured new at our facility in Sauget, IL.
- Dedicated On-Call Defense Support Team: Our Help Desk is available 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a filter “military grade”?
For UAF, military grade means engineered to your platform’s environmental and EMI requirements and built from rugged, flame-resistant materials to your program’s specifications.
Do you make air filtration for military ground vehicles?
Yes. UAF engineers custom air filtration for military ground vehicle electronics and onboard systems, built to your platform’s dust, vibration, and temperature requirements.
Can you provide military EMI shielding?
Yes. UAF supplies EMI vent panels and custom, ruggedized EMI vent assemblies, with engineering support for shielded enclosures.
Do you support Counter-UAS and drone-in-a-box systems?
Yes. UAF engineers filtration and EMI vent solutions for the electronics and enclosures used in C-UAS and drone-in-a-box platforms, tuned to keep systems clean and cool in the field.
What are your prototype and minimum order options?
UAF welcomes prototypes and low-volume builds, with a $500 minimum order value that can be waived for test or down-selection, and supports your program from R&D through production and sustainment.
Protect Your Essential Assets
For demanding applications that require maximum reliability, UAF is your trusted custom air filter manufacturer. Contact us today to learn how our custom air filters can protect your mission-critical systems.
Custom Solutions to Solve Your Needs:
- EMI Filters / EMI Shielding Filters
- Custom Air Filters
- EMI Shielding Solutions
- Outdoor Telecom Filters
- Harsh Environment Filters
SAM (System for Award Management) Registered: CAGE 58860
Don’t Just Take it From Us, Hear from Our Customers
Here is what happy military clients have to say about UAF’s custom air filtration solutions:
“You guys knocked this out of the park for us…we appreciate the extra steps taken to support our delivery to the Navy. I look forward to dealing with UAF in the future!” – 06.05.2024
“Filters are performing wonderfully, our hull is staying dry, and we are still getting the calculated airflow. You have some very happy customers.” – 11.01.2024
“Universal Air Filters support over the past several weeks has allowed us to meet critical deadlines, and I hope we can continue fostering this relationship moving forward.” – 09.11.2025