Designations Of
Copyright © 2000-2004 Andreas
Parsch
2 Early
Communications Designation Systems
2.1
Army
2.2
Navy
3 Joint
Electronics Type Designation System (The "AN" System)
3.1
History
3.2
Sets
And Systems
3.3
Components
(Groups And Units)
3.4
Miscellanea
3.4.1 Training
Equipment
3.4.2 Power
Input Modifications
3.4.3 Development
Indicator
3.4.4 Additional
Type Indicators for Data Processing Equipment
3.4.5 Additional
Parenthetical Designators
3.4.6 Preliminary
Designators
4.1
BuAer
Defensive Fire Control Systems
4.2
US
Air Force QRC (Quick Reaction Capability) Programs, 1952 - 1964
6 Sources
Soon after radio came in
use at the beginning of the 20th century, Army and Navy started to use this new
means of communication. Both services also assigned formalized designations to
its radio and communications equipment almost from the beginning. These
systems, however, proved cumbersome and difficult to adapt to new requirements.
The expansion of World War II, and the introduction of new types of equipment
(e.g. radar) finally lead to the joint "AN" designation system for
all types of electronic and communications equipment. This article will
describe the various designation systems in some detail.
The material in this
section is exclusively from source [4].
The Army used a numbering
system for its radio communications equipment since at least World War I. The
system distinguished between complete sets and components.
Sets:
Sets were designated with a type designator and a sequential model number,
separated by a dash. Each designator used its own sequential number series,
starting with 1. The following types were defined:
Sometimes, modifications
were indicated using additional letters, as in SCR-211-C or SCR-AH-183.
Components and
Equipment:
Components and associated items were also designated using a type designator
and a model number, separated by a dash. Type designators for radio
communications components and equipment were:
Beginning around 1910,
the Navy assigned alphanumerical type designations codes to its radio
communication equipment.
Sets and Systems:
Two letters were used, where the first letter indicated the type of equipment,
while the second letter served as a sequential model letter, e.g.
"RB" was the second receiver. When the single letter model sequence
was exhausted, this was extended to three letters, e.g. "RZ" was
followed by "RAA", "RAB", etc.
Some type letters used "sub-series", in which the second letter of
the 3-letter designator was not assigned sequentially, but indicated the
sub-type of the equipment. Examples (like type letter "A") can be
found in the type letter listing below.
Later versions of a system would receive a numerical suffix, i.e.
"RAK-1" for the second version of "RAK", "RAK-2"
for the third, etc. Modifications after delivery resulted in lower case
suffixes, like "RAK-1a", "RAK-1b", etc. Prototypes and test
models of an equipment item were designated with an "X-" prefix, e.g.
the prototype for the "RAK" would be an "X-RAK".
The following type letters were defined:
(listing copied verbatim from source [4])
Model Type of Equipment A-- --- Airborne Radio and Radar Equipment AB- Airborne IFF AI- Airborne Radar Intercept AM- Airborne Radio Transmitting and Receiving AR- Airborne Radio Receiving AS- Airborne Search Radars AT- Airborne Radio Transmitting AY- Airborne Radar AltimetersB-- --- Ship-Shore IFF EquipmentC-- CX All Commercial Experimental EquipmentD-- --- Ship-Shore Radio and Radar Direction Finding Equipment DX- Assembled Direction Finder Equipments (DF assemblies which when used with a standard receiver form a complete DF equipment.)E-- --- Emergency Power Equipment (Gasoline or Diesel engine generator sets)F-- --- Radar Fire Control Equipment ("F" series superseded by the BuOrd Radar Mark/Mod series) --- Subseries of "F" series in use for other than fire control radar, as follows: FP- Facsimile Recording Equipment. FQ- Facsimile Scanning Equipment. FR- Frequency Shift Receiver Converter Equipment. FS- Frequency Shift Keying Equipment.G-- --- Airborne Radio Transmitting Equipment (Classification cancelled - Reassigned "AT" series.)H-- --- Hoist Train Mechanism (Cancelled - hoist train mechanism considered as part of an equipment.)I-- --- Intercept Radar.J-- --- Sonar-Sound Listening (Receiving).L-- --- Precision Calibrating Equipment.M-- --- Radio Transmitting and Receiving Equipment.N-- --- Sonar Echo Sounding. NA- Sonar Beacon. NG- Echo Sounding (Rochelle Salt). NJ- Lightweight Echo Sounding Recording. NK- Portable Echo Sounding Recording. NM- Echo Sounding (Magnetostriction).O-- --- Measuring, Test, and Operator Trainer Equipments for Models OA to OCZ inclusive. For Models after OCZ, the subseries breakdown is as follows: OE- Xmtr and/or Rcvr Analyzers, Vacuum-Tube Voltmeters, Volt-Ohm-Milliammeters, Multimeters. OF- Echo Boxes, Wavemeters, Frequency Meters (non- precision). OG- Signal Generators (non-precision), Test Oscillators OK- Sonar Computers. OM- Test Monitor Equipment. OP- Signal and Sound Wave Measuring Equipment, Noise Meters. OS- Oscilloscopes. OT- Radar Operator Trainers. OV- Vacuum Tube Analyzers or Testers. OW- Sonar Test Equipment. OZ- Impedance Measuring Equipment.P-- --- Automatic Transmitting and Receiving Equipment Coding Equipment.Q-- --- Sonar Echo-Ranging-Listening Equipments: QA- E/R/L (Quartz). QB- E/R/L (Rochelle Salt). QC- E/R (Magnetostriction) with L (Rochelle Salt). QD- Depth Determining Equipment. QF- Teacher and Training Equipment. QG- Console Version of "QC" Series. QJ- Console Version of "QB" Series. QK- Scanning Sonar-Crystal. QL- Frequency Modulated Sonar. QX- Auxiliary Equipments to Echo Ranging Sonar.R-- --- Radio Receiving Equipment (Panoramic radio adapters were included in this class up through Model REZ). RP- Panoramic Radio Adapters.S-- --- Search Radar Equipment.T-- --- Radio Transmitting Equipment. TP- Power Amplifiers.U-- --- Remote Control: UX- Mobile Remote Control.V-- --- Visual - PPI Repeaters.W-- --- Sonar - Combined Ranging and Sounding: WA- Combined Sounding-Ranging (Magnetostriction). WB- Combined Sounding-Ranging (Rochelle Salt). WC- Combined Sounding-Ranging (R/S Sounding) (M/S & R/S Ranging & Listening). WD- Combined Sounding-Ranging (R/S Sounding) (M/S & R/S Ranging & Listening) WE- Combined Lightweight M/S Echo Ranging with sounding feature removed. WF- Combined Ranging-Sounding-Listening (Sonic & supersonic listening using ADP crystals).X-- --- Experimental (Navy-designed).Y-- --- Navigation and Landing Equipment: (other than direction finders), (beacons).Z-- --- Airborne Navigation and Landing. (Classification cancelled - reassigned "AY" series).
Components:
Components and parts of a system received separate designations, as follows:
|
Examples: |
CRV |
- |
46 |
151 |
|
|
|
|
COL |
- |
46 |
159 |
- |
A |
|
|
CAY |
- |
50 |
AEY |
- |
1 |
|
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
(3) |
|
(4) |
(1) was a letter code for
the manufacturer, the first letter always being a "C". Initially,
only two letters were used, but this was later extended to 3 and 4 letters.
The two-digit code (2)
indicated the class or type of the component. The following table lists the
type codes:
(listing copied verbatim from source [4])
Class Material 10 Miscellaneous: To be used when a definite class is not available.14 Special RF Devices (Not covered by any other classification). (Electronic switching, etc.)18 Prime Movers and Accessories: All types except electrical.19 Batteries: All types; parts and accessories.20 Rectifier Power Units - Voltage Regulators - Copper Oxide Rectifiers: All types. A20 is crystal detectors.21 Motors - Generators - Dynamotors - Motor Generators - Rotary Converters, etc. Motor controllers.22 Instruments - Electrical Indicating and Recording.23 Control Panels and Control Units. (Except motor controllers.)24 Switches: Manually operated.25 Shields and Shielding Material: Finishes.26 Keys - Telegraph: Manually operated.28 Protective Devices: Static types.29 Electromagnetic Contact Devices: All types.30 Transformers and Reactors: Power and audio.35 Oscillators - Complete Units (Audio or RF).36 Ranging Equipment - Radio (Localizer, rotating beacons, etc.)38 Vacuum Tubes - Photo-electric Cells: All types.40 Piezo-Electric Crystals and Holders - Thermometers and Thermostats.41 Compensators - Underwater Sound.43 Transmitter-Receiver Units (Combined): Equipment in which the transmitter and receiver are not separable as units.46 Receiver Units and Converters (RF to IF, etc.) - Radio and Sound.47 RF Transformers - Inductors - Chokes.48 Capacitors: All types.49 Head Telephones - Telephone Cords - Patch Cords - Loudspeakers - Plugs - Jacks - Sockets - Receptacles: All types.50 Amplifier, Modulator, and Coupler Units - Electronic Converters - Mixing Panels: All types. (Complete diplex and duplex units.) See 14 for electronic switching.51 Microphones - Hydrophones - Underwater Sound Electrical Pickup Devices - Combination Handsets: All types.52 Radio Transmitter Units: Includes RF drivers for underwater sound equipment, etc.53 Filter Units: All electrical types.54 Sound Receiving Devices - Acoustical.55 Indicators and Recorders: Radio, radar, and underwater sound. (Indicating instruments under Class 22.)56 Wave Propagation.59 Television - Photo - Radio.60 Test Equipment (Integral instruments under Class 22.) A60 is Training Equipment (Operator trainers and instruction devices.)61 Insulators and Insulating Material: Phenolic and ceramic.62 Wires and Conductors - Junction Boxes. A62 is RF transmission lines and RF cables, etc.63 Resistors: All types.64 Static Recorders and Eliminators.65 Remote Control Systems by Wire: Repeater systems, etc.66 Antennas - Antenna Assemblies. (Dummy and phantom antennas.)67 Automatic Systems, Facsimile, Tele-Automatic: Automatic keyers and recorders.68 Secrecy Systems: Sending and receiving. (Speech scrambling)69 Direction Finding Equipment: Radio.70 Distance Finding: A70 is radio altimeters.72 Portable Equipment - Field Sets.73 Combined Gas Engine Generator Sets.74 Precision Calibration and Measuring Equipment.75 Standards: (Including standardization notices, etc.)78 HF Underwater Sound Projector (above 10 Kc) and supporting parts.79 LF Underwater Sound Projector (10 Kc or below).83 Frequency Control Systems.84 Control by Radio.85 Interference Reduction.87 Experimental Superfrequency Equipment.88 Instrument Landing Equipments.89 Radio Recognition and Identification Devices.90 Visual Signalling Apparatus (This classification for type number assignments only).
(3) was the number of the
specific model, consisting of 2, 3 or 4 digits, resulting in a 4-, 5- or
6-digit model designation. Secret equipment used 3-letter codes instead of
model numbers.
(4) was an optional
suffix to designate modifications. Normal designations had upper case letter
suffixes, while designations for secret equipment had numerical suffixes.
With the rapidly
expanding use of radio, radar and other electronic equipment in World War II,
the old Army and Navy systems were increasingly unsuited for the new
requirements. Therefore, the Army and Navy introduced the new "Joint Army-Navy
Nomenclature System", also known as "Joint Communications-Electronics
Nomenclature System", or short as "AN System". This was formally
approved on 17 February 1943, although the first designation assignments were
already made in late December 1942. The initial emphasis was on airborne radio
and radar equipment, but the system was designed to be extendable and was soon
extended to include other types of equipment. When the Air Force separated from
the Army in 1947, it continued to use the system for its electronic equipment.
The Coast Guard started to use the system from 16 August 1951 and the Army from
8 June 1953. In 1957, the system was formalized in MIL-STD-196 "Joint
Electronics Type Designation System" (JETDS). The system has since been
slightly revised and adapted to modern requirements, and the current version is
MIL-STD-196E, released on 17 February 1998.
In a way similar to the
older Army and Navy systems, JETDS distinguishes between complete systems and
components. The US military uses detailed definitions of "Item
Levels" from single "Parts" to complete "Systems", and
a brief explanation of all terms relevant to the discussion of JETDS can be
found here.
JETDS does not designate parts and assemblies, and uses different designation
schemes for the other item types.
Sets, subsystems and
systems are designated by the well-known "AN" nomenclature.
|
Examples: |
AN / |
A |
P |
G |
- |
5 |
A |
|
|
|
AN / |
A |
L |
Q |
- |
151 |
|
(V)2 |
|
|
|
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
|
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
All designations are
prefixed by "AN/". Originally, this stood for "Army-Navy",
but this interpretation is no longer valid. Nowadays, "AN/" is simply
an indicator for the JETDS. In non-official references to electronic equipment,
the "AN/" prefix is often omitted.
Letter (1) indicates the
installation location of the equipment:
Letter (2) is the type of
the equipment:
Letter (3) defines the
purpose of the equipment:
(4) is the model number.
Each Installation-Type-Purpose letter combination uses its own model number
sequence, starting at 1. Blocks of high model numbers are reserved for use by
Canada (500-599, 2500-2599), Australia (2000-2099), New Zealand (2100-2199) and
the UK (2200-2299). It seems that the first number of the Canadian block (500)
is never used, i.e. Canadian designations always start with 501.
The optional suffix
letter (5) denotes a specific version of the equipment. The first version uses
no suffix, the first modifcation uses "A", etc. The letters
"I", "O", "Q", "S", "T",
"X", "Y", "Z" are not used as version suffix.
"I", "O", "Q" and "S" could be confused
with numerals 1, 0 and 5 respectively, for "T", "X",
"Y" and "Z" see section
3.4.
(6) The "(V)"
symbol indicates an equipment with variable components (sets, groups or units).
A number following the "(V)" is used to designate a specific
version of the equipment, i.e. with a specific component configuration. If a
component of a set or system is of variable configuration, i.e. carries a
"(V)" symbol, the set or system itself must also use the
"(V)" symbol.
Notes:
1. Installation letter "C", type letters "B" and
"Z", and purpose letter "Z" are reserved for use by the NSA
(National Security Agency) only.
2. "Cryptographic" is not an "installation" letter
in the proper sense. It should have been a new "type" or
"purpose" letter.
3. Installation letter "G" is used, when two or more of
"F", "M", "P", "T" or "V"
apply.
4. Installation letter "M" is only used if the vehicle
housing the equipment is solely designed for this purpose, i.e. the vehicle is
a part of the equipment. For equipment installed in other vehicles, like tanks,
etc., installation letter "V" is used.
5. Installation letter "T" is only used, if none of
"G", "M", "P", "U" or "V" can
be applied. It is intended for equipment, which can be moved, but can't be
operated while in motion.
6. Installaton letter "U" is used in following two
principally different cases:
- Equipment items (e.g. a radio AN/URC-n), which can be used in
different installations (e.g. in aircraft, ship or ground installations)
- Systems, which consist of several components installed in different locations
(e.g. the AN/USD-9 system has an airborne component AN/ARW-83 and a
ground-based component AN/TSQ-105)
7. This designator was actually used. For example, the AN/CBQ-1 was an
air-transportable pigeon loft & message center. The "AN" system,
as originally devised, was intended for electronic and communications
equipment. The US military used homing pigeons (on a small scale, of course)
through WW II (the Army did not retire its last homing pigeon until 1957).
8. Type letter "E" (Laser) is a fairly recent (1985)
addition to the system and is not in wide use. Most laser devices use either
"V" or "A", depending on the laser wavelength.
Groups and units (i.e.
the components of complete sets and systems) are designated as follows:
|
Examples: |
MD |
- |
945 |
|
|
/ |
TSC |
|
|
AM |
- |
4859 |
A |
|
/ |
ARN-89 |
|
|
R |
- |
1808 |
|
(V)5 |
/ |
TRS-2(V) |
|
|
OA |
- |
1256 |
|
|
/ |
MPQ-4A |
|
|
PP |
- |
867 |
|
|
/ |
U |
|
|
AS |
- |
22 |
|
|
/ |
AP |
|
|
(1) |
|
(2) |
(3) |
(5) |
|
(4) |
The one- or two-letter
code (1) indicates the type of the unit or group.
Group indicators:
Unit indicators:
(2) is the model number.
Each unit or group indicator uses its own model number sequence, starting at 1.
Blocks of high model numbers are reserved for use by Canada (5000-5999,
25000-25999), Australia (20000-20999), New Zealand (21000-21999) and the UK
(22000-22999)
The optional suffix
letter (3) denotes a specific version of the equipment. The first version uses
no suffix, the first modifcation uses "A", etc. The letters
"I", "O", "Q", "S", "T",
"X", "Y", "Z" are not used as version suffix.
"I", "O", "Q" and "S" could be confused
with numerals 1, 0 and 5 respectively, for "T", "X",
"Y" and "Z" see section
3.4.
(4) The full type
designation of a group or unit includes a slant bar, followed by the
designation of the set or system, of which it is a part. If the equipment can
be used with several systems, a more general designator is appended. E.g. the
MD-945/TSC is a modulator, which is used with several AN/TSC-n systems,
while the AS-22/AP is an antenna, which is used with several airborne radar
sets/systems with different purpose indicators. A designation for a general
purpose component, i.e. one that is not designed to be used in a specific
environment, should use only the general installation letter "U"
after the slant bar. However, the "/U" suffix is often omitted in
these cases.
(5) The "(V)"
symbol indicates an equipment (usually a group) with variable components. A
number following the "(V)" is used to designate a specific version
of the equipment, i.e. with a specific component configuration.
Notes:
1. Group indicator "OS" was added to the system
in 1998, and clashes with the "OS" unit indicator. These two
designators apparently share a single numerical model number sequence.
2. Unit indicator "DU" is not listed in the
original MIL-STD-196E. It was added to the system around 1999 and will be
included in the next revision of MIL-STD-196.
Training items designed
to be used with a certain equipment item are designated by adding "-Tn"
to the equipment designator. E.g., the second training set for the AN/APQ-13
radar set is designated as AN/APQ-13-T2. If a set/system can be used for
training with several sets/systems of a certain type, the model number is
omitted. E.g., AN/APG-T1 is the first training set designed to be used with
several AN/APG-n systems. If a set/system can be used for training with
equipment in different installation locations, installation letter
"U" is used, e.g. AN/URC-T1 is a training set for both airborne
(AN/ARC-n) and ground (AN/GRC-n) radio communicators.
Modifications of an
equipment, which only change the electrical power input requirements (e.g.
different voltage and/or frequency), are not indicated by the
"standard" modification letters "A", "B", etc.,
but by the three reserved letters "X", "Y" and
"Z". These can also be combined, e.g. AN/ARC-51BX is the first power input
modification of the AN/ARC-51B. If more than 3 power input modifications exist
for a specific equipment, multiple suffix letters ("XX",
"YY", etc.) are used.
During the development
phase of an equipment item, a development indicator like (XN-1) may be appended
to the basic equipment designation. The letter combination always starts with
"X" and indicates the organization responsible for the development,
and the number is a sequential series number (using separate series for each
combination of equipment designator and developing organization). E.g., the
AN/APS-73(XH-3) is the third developmental model of the basic AN/APS-73 by the
Air Force Aerial Reconnaissance Laboratory.
The following letter combinations for organizations have been defined over the
years (not all of them are still used today):
Designators for data
processing sets and systems (type indicator "Y") can optionally be
further detailed to indicate the characteristics of the equipment. In this
case, additional digits in parentheses are inserted behind the
installation-type-purpose designator, e.g. AN/UYK(1,4,5)-n. The
following digits can be used:
There are two other designators,
which are used in a way similar to the "(V)" for variable
configuration equipment, i.e. they are appended behind the model number. These
designators are:
An example, which uses
both of these designators, is RT-1539A(P)(C)/G.
If an equipment item has
not yet received an official designation, it can be referred to using a
designation, where the model number has been replaced by parentheses. E.g., a
new fire control radar system could be identified as AN/APG-() in the initial
development phase.
[The information in this
section was contributed by Chuck Hansen. Thanks!]
The postwar U.S. Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) assigned "AERO" designations to many
different types of equipment, that were used on postwar US Navy aircraft. More
specifically, "AERO" designations were assigned to aircraft ordnance
equipment and accessories, including tow targets, gunsights, bombsights, target
carriers, gun chargers, turrets, bomb shackles, bomb and torpedo racks,
launchers and ejectors, bomb trailers and skids, and bomb and torpedo hoists.
The following table lists the AERO numbers assigned to airborne defensive fire
control systems.
|
Number |
Contractor |
Description/Use |
|
AERO-1 |
Westinghouse |
4x20mm
tail turret with automatic gun laying radar |
|
AERO-2 |
General
Electric |
2x20mm
wingtip turret with radar |
|
AERO-3 |
Emerson |
2x20mm
wingtip roll/traverse turret |
|
AERO-4 |
Martin |
4x20mm
roll/traverse fighter nose turret |
|
AERO-5 |
General
Electric |
4x20mm
tail turret with automatic gun laying radar |
|
AERO-6 |
Martin |
2x20mm;
automatic gun laying with S-6 sight & APG-19 radar; for P4M tail
(X220CH-3) |
|
AERO-7 |
Martin |
2x20mm;
S-4 sight, stabilized drive; for P4M tail (X220CH-2) |
|
AERO-8 |
Martin |
2x.60
cal; automatic gun laying with S-4 sight; for P4M tail (X260CH-1) |
|
AERO-9 |
Emerson |
2x20mm
nose turret; for P4M and P2V |
|
AERO-10 |
Emerson |
2x20mm
nose turret; S-9 sight, stabilized drive |
|
AERO-11 |
Emerson |
2x20mm;
Mk 18 sight, APG-18 radar; for patrol plane tails (X220RH-1) |
|
AERO-12 |
Martin |
2x20mm
side turret; for XP5Y-1 |
|
AERO-13 |
Emerson |
2x20mm
deck turret (as AERO-9) |
|
AERO-14 |
Emerson |
2x20mm
deck turret; stabilized drive; for P2V-7 |
|
(15) |
(No information) |
|
|
AERO-16 |
ERCO |
2x20mm
teardrop turret (modified ERCO X220TH-1) |
|
AERO-17 |
Emerson |
4x.50
cal. roll/traverse nose turret; for F9F-3 |
|
AERO-18 |
Control
Instr.(Westinghouse) |
2x20mm
roll/traverse nose turret; Vickers drive; for escort fighters |
|
AERO-19 |
NADC |
Side
turret |
|
AERO-20 |
Emerson |
20mm
side turret (similar to AERO-12) |
|
AERO-21 |
Westinghouse |
2x20mm
tail turret (developed from AERO-11); for A3D |
|
AERO-22 |
Westinghouse |
Automatic
gun laying radar |
|
AERO-23 |
Westinghouse |
Automatic
gun laying radar turret; for XP6M-1 |
|
AERO-24 |
Emerson |
Wingtip
turret; for XP5Y-1 |
[The information in this
section was contributed by Per Nyström. Thanks!]
The following text is
quoted from "The History of US Electronic Warfare" (source [5]),
Volumes 2 and 3:
AIR FORCE QUICK REACTION CAPABILITY PROGRAMS, 1952 TO 1964
In 1952, mid-way through the Korean War, the US Air Force issued a new directive entitled "Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) for ECM". This procedure was to be used when it was necessary to procure quickly limited quantities of new equipment, to counter new enemy electronic threats as they were discovered. The program used production procurement funds, which are larger than those for research and development. The ECM Branch of the Aircraft Radiation laboratory at Wright Field was assigned technical responsibility for the resultant QRC equipments designed for airborne use, and the Air Force Supply Depot at Gentile AFB held procurement responsibility. Early in the program an in-house QRC facility was established at the Rome Air Development Center for building ground-based systems. Following a competitive bid the Hallicrafters Company at Chicago won the contract to become sole source contractor to built QRC systems, and held the position throughout most of the 1950s. As electronic warfare increased in importance the company did well out of the program. It also enjoyed an advantage over competitors, when the Air Force wanted QRC equipments placed in production. In 1959, following strong representations from competing companies, the Air Force revised the QRC program to allow any suitable company to bid for the work.
Usually a QRC program would provide engineering prototypes or a few production models of an equipment, plus sufficient spare parts for one year's operation. In a very few cases, however, as many as 100 examples of a specific equipment might be built. Later the Navy and the Army would initiate QRC programs of their own, though the other two services would use them far less than the Air Force. The Navy equipments built under QRC contracts carried regular equipment designators rather than QRC designators, making them difficult to identify. The Army ran its own system of QRC designators in parallel with that used by the Air Force, also starting from QRC-1.
The List of QRC
Programs from [5]
gives brief details of the first 232 Air Force QRC programs, spanning the
period between the date of the initiation of the procedure and the end of 1964.
A few post-1964 numbers are also listed, but the list is incomplete from this
date on.
In more recent days there
appears to be a continued use of "QRC" designations but in a slightly
different format. There are references to projects with designations like QRC xx-yy,
where xx is 83 or 84, possibly indicating a year, and yy is a low
number, up to 05, possibly a consecutive series of QRC projects for that year.
QRC may also be read as "Quick Reaction Contract" in these cases. A
list with a few of these designations can be found here.
Note: Special thanks go to David Huie. Without his active
help, the designation listings on this site wouldn't be anywhere near as complete
as they are now!
Because some of the AN
equipment listings are fairly large, I provide them in separate files. If a
certain AN/Axx, AN/Cxx, AN/Dxx or AN/Zxx code is
not listed, then I don't know any equipment item using that designator. You may
also look for listings of designations on the sites listed on the Link
page.
The reasons, why I do not
attempt to include listings of equipment with installation-letters other than
"A", "C", "D" and "Z" are:
- The topic of my site are military aviation designations.
- I really do have very few data about other "AN"
designations, because my library is almost completely aviation related.
The AN/USD category is listed, because it includes several drone surveillance
systems, and is therefore "on-topic" for an aviation related site.
Notes for the
designation lists:
Navigation Bar
If your browser - and you
;-) - like frames, click here
to view the equipment listings in a window with a separate "AN/xxx"
Navigation Bar on the left side. This is definitely not a very sophisticated
solution, but I want to avoid any frame-based trouble (i.e. difficulties with
bookmarking, search-engines, text-only browsers, etc.) with this website (as
you will have noticed, I'm not focusing on design, but on content ;-)) ).
AN/AAA
- Airborne Infrared Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AAB
- Airborne Infrared Bombing Equipment
AN/AAD
- Airborne Infrared Reconnaissance and Surveillance
AN/AAG
- Airborne Infrared Fire-Control Equipment
AN/AAM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Infrared Equipment
AN/AAQ
- Airborne Infrared Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AAR
- Airborne Infrared Receivers
AN/AAS
- Airborne Infrared Search and Detection Equipment
AN/AAT
- Airborne Infrared Transmitters
AN/ACC
- Airborne Carrier Signal Based Communications
AN/ACM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Carrier Signal Based Equipment
AN/ACQ
- Airborne Carrier Signal Based Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/ADA
- Airborne Radioactivity Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/ADR
- Airborne Radioactivity Receivers
AN/AES
- Airborne Laser Search and Detection Equipment
AN/AGA
- Airborne Teletype Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AGC
- Airborne Teletype Communications
AN/AGM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Teletype Equipment
AN/AIA
- Airborne Interphone Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AIC
- Airborne Interphone Communications
AN/AIH
- Airborne Interphone Recorders
AN/AIM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Interphone Equipment
AN/AIQ
- Airborne Interphone Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AJA
- Airborne Electromechanical Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AJB
- Airborne Electromechanical Bombing Equipment
AN/AJM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Electromechanical Equipment
AN/AJN
- Airborne Electromechanical Navigation Equipment
AN/AJQ
- Airborne Electromechanical Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AKA
- Airborne Telemetry Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AKM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Telemetering Equipment
AN/AKQ
- Airborne Telemetry Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AKR
- Airborne Telemetry Receivers
AN/AKT
- Airborne Telemetry Transmitters
AN/ALA
- Airborne Countermeasures Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/ALD
- Airborne Countermeasures Detection and Surveillance
AN/ALE
- Airborne Countermeasures Ejectors (i.e. flare/chaff dispensers)
AN/ALH
- Airborne Countermeasures Recorders
AN/ALK
- Airborne Countermeasures Computers
AN/ALM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Countermeasures Equipment
AN/ALQ
- Airborne Countermeasures Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/ALR
- Airborne Countermeasures Receivers
AN/ALT
- Airborne Countermeasures Transmitters
AN/AMA
- Airborne Meteorological Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AME
- Airborne Meteorological Ejectors
AN/AMH
- Airborne Meteorological Recorders
AN/AMM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Meteorological Recorders
AN/AMQ
- Airborne Meteorological Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AMR
- Airborne Meteorological Receivers
AN/AMS
- Airborne Meteorological Search and Detection Equipment
AN/AMT
- Airborne Meteorological Transmitters
AN/ANH
- Airborne Sound Recorders
AN/ANQ
- Airborne Sound Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/APA
- Airborne Radar Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/APB
- Airborne Bombing Radars
AN/APD
- Airborne Direction Finding and Surveillance Radars
AN/APG
- Airborne Fire-Control Radars
AN/APH
- Airborne Radar Recorders
AN/APM -
Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Radars
AN/APN -
Airborne Navigation Radars
AN/APQ -
Airborne Multipurpose/Special Radars
AN/APR
- Airborne Radar Receivers
AN/APS
- Airborne Search and Detection Radars
AN/APT
- Airborne Radar Transmitters
AN/APW
- Airborne Flight Control Radars
AN/APX
- Airborne Identification Radars
AN/APY
- Airborne Surveillance Radars
AN/AQA
- Airborne Sonar Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AQH
- Airborne Sonar Recorders
AN/AQM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Sonar Equipment
AN/AQQ
- Airborne Sonar Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AQS
- Airborne Search & Detection Sonars
AN/ARA
- Airborne Radio Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/ARB
- Airborne Radio Bombing Equipment
AN/ARC
- Airborne Radio Communications
AN/ARD
- Airborne Radio Direction Finding and Surveillance
AN/ARH
- Airborne Radio Receorders
AN/ARM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Radio Equipment
AN/ARN
- Airborne Radio Navigation Equipment
AN/ARQ
- Airborne Radio Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/ARR
- Airborne Radio Receivers
AN/ARS
- Airborne Radio Search Equipment
AN/ART
- Airborne Radio Transmitters
AN/ARW
- Airborne Flight/Remote Control Radio
AN/ARY
- Airborne Radio Surveillance and Control Equipment
AN/ASA
- Airborne Special/Combination Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/ASB
- Airborne Special/Combination Bombing Equipment
AN/ASC
- Airborne Special/Combination Communications
AN/ASD
- Airborne Special/Combination Detection and Reconnaissance Equipment
AN/ASE
- Airborne Special/Combination Ejectors
AN/ASG
- Airborne Special/Combination Fire-Control Equipment
AN/ASH
- Airborne Special/Combination Recording/Reproducing Equipment
AN/ASK
- Airborne Special/Combination Computers
AN/ASM -
Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Special/Combination Equipment
AN/ASN -
Airborne Special/Combination Navigation Equipment
AN/ASQ -
Airborne Special/Combination Multipurpose/Special Equipment (this could be anything!)
AN/ASR
- Airborne Special/Combination Receivers
AN/ASS
- Airborne Special/Combination Search Equipment
AN/AST
- Airborne Special/Combination Transmitters
AN/ASW
- Airborne Special/Combination Flight/Remote Control Equipment
AN/ASX
- Airborne Special/Combination Identification Equipment
AN/ATC
- Airborne Wire Telephone Communications Equipment
AN/ATE
- Airborne Wire Dispensers
AN/ATM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Wire Telephone Equipment
AN/ATR
- Airborne Wire Telephone Receivers
AN/AVA
- Airborne Visual/Light Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AVB
- Airborne Visual/Light Bombing Equipment
AN/AVD
- Airborne Visual/Light Detection and Reconnaissance Equipment
AN/AVG
- Airborne Airborne Visual/Light Fire-Control and Searchlight Control Equipment
AN/AVH
- Airborne Visual/Light Recorders
AN/AVM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Visual/Light Equipment
AN/AVN
- Airborne Visual Navigation Equipment
AN/AVQ
- Airborne Visual/Light Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AVR
- Airborne Light Receivers
AN/AVS
- Airborne Visual Search Equipment
AN/AVT
- Airborne Light Transmitters
AN/AVX
- Airborne Visual Identification Equipment
AN/AWA
- Airborne Armament Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AWB
- Airborne Armament Bombing Equipment
AN/AWE
- Airborne Armament Ejectors
AN/AWG
- Airborne Fire-Control Systems
AN/AWH
- Airborne Armament Related Recorders/Reproducers
AN/AWM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Armament Equipment
AN/AWQ
- Airborne Armament Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AWW
- Airborne Armament Remote Control Equipment
AN/AXA
- Airborne TV/Fax Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AXC
- Airborne TV/Fax Communications
AN/AXD
- Airborne TV Detection and Surveillance Equipment
AN/AXH
- Airborne TV/Fax Recorders
AN/AXM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne TV/Fax Equipment
AN/AXQ
- Airborne TV/Fax Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/AXR
- Airborne TV/Fax Receivers
AN/AXS
- Airborne TV Search Equipment
AN/AXT
- Airborne TV/Fax Transmitters
AN/AXX
- Airborne TV Identification Equipment
AN/AYA
- Airborne Data Processing Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/AYC
- Airborne Data Processing Communication Equipment
AN/AYD
- Airborne Data Processing Detection Equipment
AN/AYG
- Airborne Fire-Control Computers
AN/AYH
- Airborne Data Processing Recorders
AN/AYK
- Airborne Data Processing Computers (i.e. general-purpose computers)
AN/AYM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne Data Processing Equipment
AN/AYN
- Airborne Navigation Computers
AN/AYQ
- Airborne Multipurpose/Special Computers
AN/AYR
- Airborne Data Processing Receivers
AN/AYS
- Airborne Search Computers
AN/AYW
- Airborne Flight Control Computers
AN/CBQ -
Air Transportable Pigeon Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/CNQ
- Air Transportable Sound Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/CPA
- Air Transportable Radar Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/CPM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Air Transportable Radars
AN/CPN
- Air Transportable Navigation Radars
AN/CPQ
- Air Transportable Multipurpose/Special Radars
AN/CPS
- Air Transportable Search and Detection Radars
AN/CPT
- Air Transportable Radar Transmitters
AN/CPX
- Air Transportable Identification Radars
AN/CRA
- Air Transportable Radio Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/CRB
- Air Transportable Bombing Radio Equipment
AN/CRC
- Air Transportable Radio Communications
AN/CRD
- Air Transportable Radio Direction Finding
AN/CRM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Air Transportable Radio Equipment
AN/CRN
- Air Transportable Radio Navigation Equipment
AN/CRR
- Air Transportable Radio Receivers
AN/CRT
- Air Transportable Radio Transmitters
AN/CRW
- Air Transportable Remote Control Radio
AN/CRX
- Air Transportable Radio Identification Equipment
AN/CSC
- Air Transportable Special/Combination Communications
AN/CSQ
- Air Transportable Special/Combination Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/CST
- Air Transportable Special/Combination Transmitters
AN/CTQ
- Air Transportable Telephone Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/CTW
- Air Transportable Telephone Remote Control Equipment
AN/CVQ
- Air Transportable Visual/Light Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/CVX
- Air Transportable Visual/Light Identification Equipment
AN/DAB -
Missile/Drone Infrared Bombing Equipment
AN/DAN
- Missile/Drone Infrared Navigation Equipment
AN/DAW
- Missile/Drone Infrared Flight Control Equipment
AN/DJM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Electromechanical Equipment
AN/DJN
- Missile/Drone Electromechanical Navigation Equipment
AN/DJQ
- Missile/Drone Electromechanical Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DJW
- Missile/Drone Electromechanical Flight/Remote Control Equipment
AN/DKM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Telemetering Equipment
AN/DKQ
- Missile/Drone Telemetry Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DKT
- Missile/Drone Telemetry Transmitters
AN/DKW
- Missile/Drone Flight/Remote Control Telemetry Equipment
AN/DLD
- Missile/Drone Countermeasures Detection and Surveillance
AN/DLM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Countermeasures Equipment
AN/DLQ
- Missile/Drone Countermeasures Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DMQ
- Missile/Drone Meteorological Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DPD
- Missile/Drone Direction Finding and Surveillance Radars
AN/DPM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Radars
AN/DPN
- Missile/Drone Navigation Radars
AN/DPQ
- Missile/Drone Multipurpose/Special Radars
AN/DPS
- Missile/Drone Search and Detection Radars
AN/DPT
- Missile/Drone Radar Transmitters
AN/DPW
- Missile/Drone Flight/Remote Control Radars
AN/DPX
- Missile/Drone Identification Radars
AN/DRA
- Missile/Drone Radio Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/DRC
- Missile/Drone Radio Communication Equipment
AN/DRM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Radio Equipment
AN/DRN
- Missile/Drone Radio Navigation Equipment
AN/DRQ
- Missile/Drone Radio Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DRR
- Missile/Drone Radio Receivers
AN/DRS
- Missile/Drone Radio Search Equipment
AN/DRT
- Missile/Drone Radio Transmitters
AN/DRW
- Missile/Drone Flight/Remote Control Radio
AN/DSA
- Missile/Drone Special/Combination Auxiliary Assemblies
AN/DSM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Missile/Drone Special/Combination Equipment
AN/DSN
- Missile/Drone Special/Combination Navigation Equipment
AN/DSQ
- Missile/Drone Special/Combination Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DSW
- Missile/Drone Special/Combination Flight/Remote Control Equipment
AN/DVG
- Missile/Drone Airborne Visual/Light Fire-Control Equipment
AN/DWQ
- Missile/Drone Armament Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/DWW
- Missile/Drone Armament Remote Control Equipment
AN/DXQ
- Missile/Drone TV Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/USD -
Special/Combination Surveillance Equipment
Note: Other AN/Uxx listings are
currently not planned.
AN/ZPQ -
Airborne (Piloted/Pilotless Combination) Multipurpose/Special Radars
AN/ZSD
- Airborne (Piloted/Pilotless Combination) Special/Combination Detection and
Reconnaissance Equipment
AN/ZSM
- Maintenance and Test Sets for Airborne (Piloted/Pilotless Combination)
Special/Combination Equipment
AN/ZSQ
- Airborne (Piloted/Pilotless Combination) Special/Combination
Multipurpose/Special Equipment
AN/ZSW
- Airborne (Piloted/Pilotless Combination) Special/Combination Flight/Remote
Control Equipment
[1] Department of
Defense: MIL-STD-196E "Joint Electronics Type Designation System"
[2] Department of Defense: MIL-HDBK-505 "Handbook For Definitions Of Item
Levels, Item Exchangability, Models And Related Terms"
[3] Department of Defense: MIL-HDBK-1812 "Type Designation, Assignment And
Method For Obtaining"
[4] Ray Mote: "World War Two Nomenclature Systems", in ELECTRIC RADIO
Magazine, June & July 1995
[5] Association of Old Crows: "The History of US Electronic Warfare"
(The designation listings were compiled using a wide variety of sources, not
the least of which were the Internet and contributions by fellow researchers.)
Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch
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Last
Updated: 12 May 2004