Radio Numbering Specification
Contents
Overview
In the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS) system, complete equipment sets or systems are designated with a sequence of letters and digits prefixed by AN/, then three letters, a hyphen, a number, and (occasionally) some optional letters (AN/AAA-nnn suffixed by (Vn)- hardware/software version} or (T){training equipment} . The three letters tell where the equipment is used, what it does and its purpose. For example, the AN/PRC-77 is a Portable Radio used for two way Communications. The numbers for any given type of equipment are assigned sequentially, thus higher numbers indicate more modern systems.
The designation indicators are based on "Equipment", "Groups" and "Units". These designators are used to describe what the equipment is and what it is used for.
Sets or Equipment
Equipment Indicator Example:
The following is an example of a set of equipment system, the full chart of definitions can be found at Set or Equipment Indicator Letters below.
- AN/VRC-12
- AN = Designates that this device is categorized by the JETDS system
- V = Ground Vehicular
- R = Radio
- C = Communications
- 12 = Model Number
Groups
Electronic Systems can be also organized into groups, these groups are classified by a two letter prefix indicating the purpose of the group. The chart below Group Indicators defines these prefixes.
Group Indicator Example
- OE-254/VRC
- OE = Antenna groups
Equipment indicator letters that follow the forward slash indicate the potential of the group for multiple or peculiar application use. For example: OE-254/VRC indicates an antenna group (OE) for Ground Vehicular Radio Communications (VRC). Equipment indicators with a specific model number, Example "OK-450/TRC-26" are used to indicate that the item can only be used with that specific equipment (e.g., AN/TRC-26) with no known potential for other use.
Units
Military Component items can be identified by looking that the nomenclature prefix. These codes can be looked up in the chart below Unit Indicators to determine what they are.
Unit indicators Example
- LS-671 = Speaker
- H-250 = Head, hand, and chest sets
- TA-312 = Telephone apparatus
Set or Equipment Indicator Letters
Radio Numbering Designations | |
---|---|
SEC | DEF |
AN |
|
V |
|
R |
|
C |
|
12 |
|
Group Indicators
Radio Numbering Designations | |
---|---|
Indicator | Family Name |
OA | Miscellaneous groups |
OB | Multiplexer and/or demultiplexer groups |
OD | Indicator groups |
OE | Antenna groups |
OF | Adapter groups |
OG | Amplifier groups |
OH | Simulator groups |
OJ | Consoles and console groups |
OK | Control groups |
OL | Data analysis and data processing groups |
OM | Modulator and/or demodulator groups |
ON | Interconnecting groups |
OP | Power supply groups |
OQ | Test set groups |
OR | Receiver groups |
OT | Transmitter groups |
OU | Converter groups |
OV | Generator groups |
OW | Terminal groups |
OX | Coder, decoder, interrogator, transponder groups |
OY | Radar set groups |
OZ | Radio set groups |
Unit Indicators
Radio Unit Indicators | |
---|---|
Indicator | Family Name |
AB | Supports, antenna |
AM | Amplifiers |
AS | Antennas, complex and simple |
AT | Antennas, simple |
BA | Batteries, primary type |
BB | Batteries, secondary type |
BZ | Alarm units |
C | Controls |
CA | Commutator assemblies, sonar |
CB | Capacitor banks |
CG | Cable assemblies, RF |
CK | Crystal kits |
CM | Comparators |
CN | Compensators |
CP | Computers |
CR | Crystals |
CU | Couplers |
CV | Converters |
CW | Radomes |
CX | Cable assemblies, non-RF |
CY | Cases and cabinets |
D | Dispensers |
DA | Loads, dummy |
DT | Detecting heads |
DY | Dynamotors |
E | Hoists |
F | Filter units |
FN | Furnitures |
FR | Frequency-measuring devices |
G | Generators, power |
GO | Goniometers |
GP | Ground rods |
H | Head, hand, and chest sets |
HC | Crystal holders |
HD | Environmental apparatus (heating, cooling, etc. |
ID | Indicators, non-cathode-ray tube |
IL | Insulators |
IM | Intensity-measuring devices |
IP | Indicators, cathode-ray tubes |
J | Interface units |
KY | Keying devices |
LC | Tools, line-construction |
LS | Loudspeakers |
M | Microphones |
MA | Magazines |
MD | Modulators, demodulators, discriminators |
ME | Meters |
MF | Magnets or magnetic-field generators |
MK | Miscellaneous kits |
ML | Meteorological devices |
MT | Mountings |
MU | Memory units |
MX | Miscellaneous |
O | Oscillators |
OC | Oceanographic devices |
OS | Oscilloscopes, test |
PD | Prime drivers |
PF | Fittings, pole |
PG | Pigeon articles |
PH | Photographic articles |
PL | Plug-in units |
PP | Power supplies |
PT | Mapping and plotting units |
PU | Power equipments |
R | Receivers |
RC | Reels |
RD | Recorder-reproducers |
RE | Relay assemblies |
RF | RF components |
RG | Cables, RF bulk |
RL | Reeling machines |
RO | Recorders |
RP | Reproducers |
RR | Reflectors |
RT | Receivers and transmitters |
S | Shelters |
SA | Switching units |
SB | Switchboards |
SG | Generators, signal |
SM | Simulators |
SN | Synchronizers |
ST | Straps |
SU | Optical devices |
T | Transmitters |
TA | Telephone apparatus |
TB | Towed bodies |
TC | Towed cables |
TD | Timing devices |
TF | Transformers |
TG | Positioning devices |
TH | Telegraph apparatus |
TK | Tool kits |
TL | Tools |
TN | Tuning units |
TR | Transducers |
TS | Test units |
TT | Teletypewriters and facsimile apparatus |
TV | Testers, tube |
TW | Tape units |
U | Connectors, audio and power |
UG | Connectors, RF |
V | Vehicles |
VS | Signaling equipment, visual |
WD | Cables, two-conductor |
WF | Cables, four-conductor |
WM | Cables, multiple-conductor |
WS | Cables, single-conductor |
WT | Cables, three-conductor |
ZM | Impedance-measuring devices |
Major Index
Airborne
- A - Piloted Aircraft
- Airborne Intercom Communication
- Airborne Radar Search
- Airborne Radar Navigation
- Airborne Radio Communication
- Airborne Radio Navigation
underwater
- B - Underwater Mobile (submarine)
Cryptographic
- C - Cryptographic Equipment (NSA use only) (was Air Transportable)
- Cryptographic Radar Search
- Cryptographic Radar Navigation
- Cryptographic Radio Communication
- Cryptographic Radio Navigation
Drone
- D - Pilotless Carrier (drone, UAV)
Fixed
- F - Fixed Ground
Ground
- G - General Ground Use
Amphibious
- K - Amphibious
Mobile
- M - Ground Mobile
Portable
- P - Human Portable
- Portable Radar Search
- Portable Radar Navigation
- Portable Radio Communication
- Portable Radio Navigation
- Portable Radio Search
- Portable Visual Search
Seaborne
- S - Water (surface ship)
Transportable
- T - Transportable (ground)
- Transportable Radar Search
- Transportable Radar Navigation
- Transportable Radio Communication
- Transportable Radio Navigation
- Transportable Telephone Communication
Utility
- U - General Utility (multi use)
Vehicle
- V - Vehicle (ground)
Water
- W - Water Surface and Underwater combined
Aircraft
- Z - Piloted/Pilotless Airborne vehicles combined