I could never understand that
High temp in an electrical cabinet?
So if the plane catches fire, the wire will withstand an extra few seconds of "temp" in case THAT might make a difference??
Not just aircraft. My 2007-vintage MEP-803A Diesel gen set has the same all-white, Teflon-family high-temp wire.
And it CAN make a very real difference, and for more than a 'few' seconds. Its predecessor wire was all that was still recognizable when one of our early space capsules suffered a pure O2 fire on the pad. All else was ash, all too-much of 98% water astronauts included.
That can buy enough time for fly-by-wire to get a damaged aircraft to a better situation, if only for more survivable ejection. Munitions might produce an intense, but only short-lived flash. Heavy damage, but only once per hit.
Buy far better time if on board fire extinguishers, luck, or manipulating the air stream can put out a fire altogether and get aircraft and crew back to safety mostly intact.
It is also pretty tough stuff against more mundane threats. Chewing rodents and insects, accidental abrasion and chafing, solvents and corrosive reagents, carelessly handled welding equipment.
Makes field depot repair logistics easier, too. Only one colour to have to fly half way 'round the world and stock in the needful gauges, not two dozen per size.
Enhances longevity of the equipment it is used on as a result of all that. Repair OR replacement costs drop, reliability in reserve storage goes up, even in less-gentle, hence cheaper storage.
Wish more of my tax dollars had as many positive returns on THEIR spend as that ignorant white wire.
Not that DoD cares, but it IS available in solid colours and colour-coded stripes as well. Been using it for years where 'plenum' ratings were called for. With the proper tool, even stripping it is easy. ELSE NOT!
Bill