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.

AN in Radio classifications Does NOT indicate "Army / Navy"
It is commonly stated that the AN in current electronic nomenclature means Army/Navy. This is not the case, it only indicates that the device uses the JETDS classification system

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.

Unit Indicators

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

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