M band (NATO)

NATO M band

Frequency range	60 - 100 GHz
Wavelength range	5 – 3 mm
Related bands	V / W (IEEE) EHF (ITU)

The NATO M band is the obsolete designation given to the radio frequencies from 60 to 100 GHz (equivalent to wavelengths between 5 and 3 mm) 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.

The NATO M band is also a subset of the EHF band as defined by the ITU.^[2] It intersects with the V (50–75 GHz) and W band (75–110 GHz) of the older IEEE classification system.^[3]

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

References

1. NATO Joint Civil/Military Frequency Agreement (NJFA)
2. "V.431: Nomenclature of the frequency and wavelength bands used in telecommunications". ITU-R. 2006-01-04. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
3. "521-2002 - IEEE Standard Letter Designations for Radar-Frequency Bands". IEEE. 2003-01-14. doi:10.1109/IEEESTD.2003.94224. Retrieved 2014-02-03. (subscription required (help)).