K band (NATO)

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NATO K band
Frequency range
20 – 40 GHz
Wavelength range
1.5 cm – 7.5 mm
Related bands

The NATO K band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 20 to 40 GHz (equivalent to wavelengths between 1.5 and 0.75 cm) during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). [1] However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

Radio frequency (RF) is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around twenty thousand times per second to around three hundred billion times per second. This is roughly between the upper limit of audio frequencies and the lower limit of infrared frequencies; these are the frequencies at which energy from an oscillating current can radiate off a conductor into space as radio waves. Different sources specify different upper and lower bounds for the frequency range.

Wavelength spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the waves shape repeats, and thus the inverse of the spatial frequency

In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is thus the inverse of the spatial frequency. Wavelength is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings and is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns. Wavelength is commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (λ). The term wavelength is also sometimes applied to modulated waves, and to the sinusoidal envelopes of modulated waves or waves formed by interference of several sinusoids.

NJFA

NJFA stands for NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement and is the universal NATO common civil/military treaty to regulate the military access to the radio frequency spectrum in the range of 14 kHz to 100 GHz in peacetime, during exercises, in times of crisis, and in military operations. This document has been the basis for the frequency utilisation in NATO-Europe since 1982. Nations and organisations, e.g. partnership for peace countries, are invited to participate as deemed to be necessary.

NATO LETTER BAND DESIGNATIONBROADCASTING
BAND
DESIGNATION
NEW NOMENCLATUREOLD NOMENCLATURE
BANDFREQUENCY (MHz)BANDFREQUENCY (MHz)
A 0 – 250I 100 – 150Band I
47 – 68 MHz (TV)
Band II
87.5 – 108 MHz (FM)
G 150 – 225Band III
174 – 230 MHz (TV)
B 250 – 500P 225 – 390
C 500 – 1 000L 390 – 1 550Band IV
470 – 582 MHz (TV)
Band V
582 – 862 MHz (TV)
D 1 000 – 2 000S 1 550 – 3 900
E 2 000 – 3 000
F 3 000 – 4 000
G 4 000 – 6 000C 3 900 – 6 200
H 6 000 – 8 000 X 6 200 – 10 900
I 8 000 – 10 000
J 10 000 – 20 000Ku10 900 – 20 000
K 20 000 – 40 000Ka20 000 – 36 000
L 40 000 – 60 000Q 36 000 – 46 000
V 46 000 – 56 000
M 60 000 – 100 000W 56 000 – 100 000
US- MILITARY / SACLANT
N 100 000 – 200 000
O 100 000 – 200 000


Related Research Articles

Frequency allocation

Frequency allocation is the allocation and regulation of the electromagnetic spectrum into radio frequency bands, which is normally done by governments in most countries. Because radio propagation does not stop at national boundaries, governments have sought to harmonise the allocation of RF bands and their standardization.

The NATO A band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 0 to 250 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement. However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO B band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 250 to 500 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA).

The NATO I band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 8 000 to 10 000 MHz during the Cold War period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO F band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 3 000 to 4 000 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO M band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 60 to 100 GHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA).

Land mobile service

Land mobile service is – in line to ITU Radio Regulations – a mobile service between base stations and land mobile stations, or between land mobile stations.

Mobile service is – in line to ITU Radio Regulations – a radiocommunication service between mobile and land stations, or between mobile stations (CV).

Fixed service

In telecommunications, a fixed service is a radiocommunication service between specified fixed points.

Aeronautical mobile service

Aeronautical mobile service is – according to Article 1.32 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) – defined as «A mobile service between aeronautical stations and aircraft stations, or between aircraft stations, in which survival craft stations may participate; emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations may also participate in this service on designated distress and emergency frequencies.»

Aeronautical mobile (OR) service

Aeronautical mobile (OR) service is – according to Article 1.34 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR) – defined as «An aeronautical mobile service intended for communications, including those relating to flight coordination, primarily outside national or international civil air routes.»

The NATO L band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 40 to 60 GHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA).

The NATO C-band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 500 to 1000 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO D band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 1.0 to 2.0 GHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO E band is a designation given to the radio frequencies from 2 000 to 3 000 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 detailed frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to generically identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, radar or in military operations, the Nato band system is often used.

The NATO G band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 4 000 to 6 000 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO H band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 6 000 to 8 000 MHz during the cold war period. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO J band is the designation given to the radio frequencies from 10 to 20 GHz. Since 1992 frequency allocations, allotment and assignments are in line to NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA). However, in order to identify military radio spectrum requirements, e.g. for crises management planning, training, Electronic warfare activities, or in military operations, this system is still in use.

The NATO N band is the designation given to the radio frequencies from 100 to 200 GHz used by US armed forces and SACLANT in ITU Region 2.

References

  1. ↑ NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA)
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