Radio Numbering Specification

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	System Indicator
V	Installation Type (Where it is) A - Piloted Aircraft B - Underwater Mobile (submarine) C - Cryptographic Equipment (NSA use only) (was Air Transportable) D - Pilotless Carrier (drone, UAV) F - Fixed Ground G - General Ground Use K - Amphibious M - Ground Mobile P - Human Portable S - Water (surface ship) T - Transportable (ground) U - General Utility (multi use) V - Vehicle (ground) W - Water Surface and Underwater combined Z - Piloted/Pilotless Airborne vehicles combined
R	Type of Equipment (What is it) A - Invisible Light, Heat Radiation (e.g. infrared) B - Comsec (NSA use only) (was Pigeon) C - Carrier (electronic wave or signal) D - Radiac (Radioactivity Detection, Identification, and Computation) E - Laser (was NUPAC, Nuclear Protection & Control) F - Fiber Optics (was Photographic) G - Telegraph or Teletype I - Interphone and Public Address J - Electromechanical or inertial wire covered K - Telemetering L - Countermeasures M - Meteorological N - Sound in Air P - Radar Q - Sonar and Underwater Sound R - Radio S - Special or Combination T - Telephone (Wire) V - Visual, Visible Light W - Armament (not otherwise covered) X - Fax or Television Y - Data Processing Z - Communications (NSA use only)
C	Purpose (What it does) A - Auxiliary Assembly B - Bombing C - Communications (two way) D - Direction Finding, Reconnaissance and Surveillance E - Ejection and/or Release G - Fire Control or Searchlight Directing H - Recording and/or Reproducing K - Computing L - no longer used. Was Searchlight Control, now covered by "G". M - Maintenance or Test N - Navigation Aid P - no longer used. Was Reproducing, now covered by "H" Q - Special or Combination R - Receiving or Passive Detecting S - Detecting, Range and Bearing, Search T - Transmitting W - Automatic Flight or Remote Control X - Identification or Recognition Y - Surveillance (target detecting and tracking) and Control (fire control and/or air control) Z - Secure (NSA use only)
12	Equipment Specific Model Number

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. (AB - Antenna Base)
AM	Amplifiers (AM - Amplifiers)
AS	Antennas, complex and simple. (AS - Antenna Systems)
AT	Antennas, simple. (AT - Antenna Tip)
BA	Batteries, primary type. (BA - Batteries)
BB	Batteries, secondary type. (BB - Storage Batteries)
BZ	Alarm units
C	Controls, (C - Control)
CA	Commutator assemblies, sonar
CB	Capacitor banks
CC	Cable Assembly, RF
CD	Controlling Device
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, (CY - Case)
D	Dispensers
DA	Loads, dummy
DI	Data Transmission Device
DT	Detecting heads
DU	Display Unit/Monitor
DY	Dynamotors (DY- Dynamotor)
E	Hoists
F	Filter units
FN	Furnitures
FO	Fiber Optics Device
FR	Frequency-measuring devices
G	Generators, power, (G - Power Generator)
GO	Goniometers
GP	Ground rods. (GP - Ground Pins)
H	Head, hand, and chest set, (H - Handset)
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, (J - Interface Units)
KG	Key Generator
KY	Keying devices
LA	Laser
LC	Tools, line-construction, (LC - Line Construction)
LM	Lamp
LS	Loudspeakers, (LS - Loud Speaker)
M	Microphones, (M - Microphones)
MA	Magazines
MD	Modulators, demodulators, discriminators
ME	Meters
MF	Magnets or magnetic-field generators
MK	Miscellaneous kits
ML	Meteorological devices, (ML - Meteorology)
MO	Multipurpose Unit
MT	Mountings, (MT - Mount)
MU	Memory units
MW	Microwave Device
MX	Miscellaneous, (MX - Miscellaneous)
O	Oscillators
OC	Oceanographic devices
OS	Oscilloscopes, test
PD	Prime drivers
PF	Fittings, pole
PG	Pigeon articles, (PG - Pigeon)
PH	Photographic articles, (PH - Photographic)
PL	Plug-in units, (PL - Plug)
PP	Power supplies, (PP - Power pack)
PT	Mapping and plotting units
PU	Power equipments, (PU - Power Unit)
R	Receivers
RB	Robotics
RC	Reels
RD	Recorder-reproducers, (RD - Recorders)
RE	Relay assemblies
RF	RF components
RG	Cables, RF bulk
RL	Reeling machines, (RL - Reel)
RO	Recorders
RP	Reproducers
RR	Reflectors
RT	Receivers and transmitters
S	Shelters, (S - Shelter)
SA	Switching units
SB	Switchboards. (SB - Switchboards)
SG	Generators, signal
SM	Simulators
SN	Synchronizers
SS	Special Purpose Device
ST	Straps, (ST - Strap)
SU	Optical devices
SY	Secure Speech Device
T	Transmitters, (T - Transmitter)
TA	Telephone apparatus, (TA - Telephone Apparatus)
TB	Towed bodies
TC	Towed cables
TD	Timing devices
TF	Transformers
TG	Positioning devices
TH	Telegraph apparatus, (TH - Telegraph apparatus)
TK	Tool kits, (TK - Tool Kit)
TL	Tools, (TL - Tools)
TN	Tuning units
TR	Transducers
TS	Test sets, (TS - Test Sets)
TT	Teletypewriters and facsimile apparatus, (TT - Teletype)
TV	Testers, tube
TW	Tape units
U	Connectors, audio and power
UG	Connectors, RF
V	Vehicles, (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

underwater

B - Underwater Mobile (submarine)

Underwater Radio Communication

Air Transportable

C - original

Cryptographic

C - Cryptographic Equipment (NSA use only) (was Air Transportable)

Drone

D - Pilotless Carrier (drone, UAV)

Fixed

F - Fixed Ground

Ground

G - General Ground Use

Amphibious

K - Amphibious

Amphibious Radio Communication

Mobile

M - Ground Mobile

Portable

P - Human Portable

Seaborne

S - Water (surface ship)

Transportable

T - Transportable (ground)

Utility

U - General Utility/Universal (multi use)

Vehicle

V - Vehicle (ground)

Water

W - Water Surface and Underwater combined

Water Radio Communication

Aircraft

Z - Piloted/Pilotless Airborne vehicles combined