Military & Government Wire Specifications
When it comes to military and government applications, wiring and cabling meet the highest standards of durability, reliability, and safety. The proper selection of military-grade wires ensures the smooth operation of essential communication, power distribution, and control systems.
Common Applications:
Military-grade cables are used across a wide range of applications to ensure reliable performance in critical systems:
- Communication Systems: Military communication systems depend on reliable cabling for uninterrupted voice and data transmission.
- Aircraft and Aerospace: For aviation, wires must be lightweight, yet durable, enough to handle the high demands of flight.
- Shipboard and Submarine Operations: Cables must be moisture-resistant to ensure reliability in submerged environments and protect against signal interference and power failures.
- Missile and Weapon Systems: Missile systems require specialized wiring for ignition and control functions. Cables must provide precise signal transmission and high temperature resilience that are necessary for guided missile systems.
- Power Distribution: Power cables that can be designed to handle high voltages and supplying power to critical military equipment. They are engineered to be durable, ensuring reliable power flow even in challenging environments.
Importance of Military Wire Specifications
Military wire and cable specifications are designed to meet strict operational requirements. The wires must withstand harsh environments such as extreme temperatures, moisture, chemicals, and physical wear. The cables are tested and graded to ensure they perform consistently in critical military and government applications. The military-grade cables are also built with unique features that ensure they can withstand rigorous conditions such as:
- High Temperature Resistance: Specifications like MIL-W-22759 outline Teflon TFE insulated wires that can endure extreme heat making them great for high-temperature applications in aircraft, missiles, and electronics.
- Durability in Harsh Environments: Arctic-grade wires such as MIL-C-12064 are designed to withstand frigid temperatures, while other specifications like MIL-C-4866 can ensure cables are resistant to chemicals, oils, and physical wear.
- Moisture and Water Resistance: Cables like MIL-C-23206 and MIL-C-24145 are designed to be water-blocked, helping prevent moisture that could compromise signal transmissions in submarines and shipboard environments.
- Low Smoke and Flame-Retardant Properties: Specifications like MIL-C-24643 cables are specially engineered to emit low smoke in fire-prone environments, reducing the risks to personnel and equipment.
| Callout | Description |
|---|---|
| JAN | Join Army Navy specification |
| J-C-90 | Flexible cord and fixture wire |
| J-C-96 | Neoprene jacketed telephone wire |
| J-C-580 | Flexible cord and fixture wire |
| J-C-741 | Rubber and/or neoprene welding cable |
| MIL-C-17 | RG cables – polyethylene and Teflon TFE cores |
| MIL-C-442B | Two conductor parallel cable, rip cord |
| MIL-C-915 | Electrical cable for shipboard use |
| MIL-C-1486 | 10 conductor WM-46/U |
| MIL-C-2194 | Navy shipboard cables with silicone rubber insulation |
| MIL-C-3078 | 50 volt single conductor cable |
| MIL-C-3162A | Ignition cables for internal combustion engines |
| MIL-C-3432B | 300 and 600 volt rubber insulated power & control cable |
| MIL-C-3458 | Telephone cables |
| MIL-C-3702 | Ignition cables for internal combustion engines |
| MIL-C-3849 | Tinsel cord, light duty low voltage flexible cord for switchboards, microphones, telephones, etc. |
| MIL-C-3883 | Audio frequency electrical cord |
| MIL-C-3884 | Electrical conductor - short lay |
| MIL-C-4839 | KEL-F insulated cable, WF-15/U |
| MIL-C-4866 | RG-62/U Cable |
| MIL-C-4921A | (ASG) Single conductor 8 AWG, 5000 volt cable with butyl compound insulation and polychloroprene for airport lighting |
| MIL-C-5136 | Cable, power, electric, polychloroprene sheathed, buna compound insulated |
| MIL-C-5756 | Low temperature rubber portable cords |
| MIL-C-6166 | Cord, headset-microphone, CX1301/AR |
| MIL-C-7078 | 600 volt aircraft wire using MIL-W-5086 components |
| MIL-C-8721 | Miniature coaxial cables with Teflon TFE cores |
| MIL-C-8817 | Aircraft ignition cables |
| MIL-C-9360 | RG 134/U cable |
| MIL-C-10065 | Special purpose electrical cables, multi-pair audio frequency |
| MIL-C-10369 | Telephone field cable, for rapid payout |
| MIL-C-10392 | Special purpose electrical cables, miniature |
| MIL-C-10581 | Telephone cable assemblies, telephone coil assembly, telephone loading |
| MIL-C-11060 | Twisted pairs using general purpose hook-up wire |
| MIL-C-11097 | Telephone cable, wire W-50-A |
| MIL-C-11311 | Telephone cable, types WD-31/U and WT-24/U |
| MIL-C-11440 | Electrical power cable |
| MIL-C-12064 | Low temperature power cable and cords for Arctic service |
| MIL-C-12423 | Telephone cable, WD-33/U |
| MIL-C-12881 | Telephone switchboard cables and assemblies |
| MIL-C-12992 | Electrical power cable assembly, cord CX-227 TVQ-1 |
| MIL-C-13066 | Telephone cable, submarine 19AWG and 22 AWG |
| MIL-C-13077 | Special purpose electrical cable |
| MIL-C-13294B | Infantry field wire, types WD-1/TT and WD-14/TT |
| MIL-C-13486 | Primary wire for military vehicles and tanks |
| MIL-C-1377 | Multi-conductor missile group support cable, 600 volt |
| MIL-C-13892 | Telephone cable, flexible |
| MIL-C-14189 | Electrical power cable, for field use, 3000 volt |
| MIL-C-15325 | Electric tow cable, 3 conductor |
| MIL-C-15479 | Electrical power cable, submarine, Navy Standard Harbot Defense |
| MIL-C-18959 | Electrical power cable, portable, neoprene jacketed, 600 volt |
| MIL-C-18961 | Special purpose cable, electrical, shot firing |
| MIL-C-18962 | Electrical power cable, direct burial, neoprene jacketed, 600 volt |
| MIL-C-19381 | (Ships) Special purpose cables, electrical nuclear plants |
| MIL-C-19547 | Special purpose electrical cables, shore use |
| MIL-C-19638 | Electric power cables, submarine, Navy Harbor Defense |
| MIL-C-19654 | Telephone cable, submarine |
| MIL-C-19787 | Electric cable, torpedo control, electric setting, 65 conductor |
| MIL-C-19883 | Special purpose electric cables, for remote control radar set AN/FPN-28 |
| MIL-C-21609 | Electrical cable, shielded, 600 volt, non-flexing service |
| MIL-C-22667 | Buoyant electrical cable, submarine use |
| MIL-C-23020 | MIL-C-23020 Coaxial cable for use inside submarines, water blocked |
| MIL-C-23206 | Special purpose electrical cable, silicone rubber, water blocked |
| MIL-C-23437 | Electrical cable, shielded pairs |
| MIL-C-24145 | (Ships) Special purpose electrical cable for shipboard use, water blocked and non-water blocked, formerly BuShip 660-L |
| MIL-C-24640 | Electrical cable, lightweight for shipboard use |
| MIL-C-24643 | Electrical cable and cord, low smoke for shipboard use |
| MIL-C-25115 | RG-62C/U |
| MIL-C-25509 | RG-115A/U |
| MIL-C-26468 | (USAF) Power cable of two voltage ranges for airport lighting |
| MIL-C-27072 | Non-portable multi-conductor cables for electronic circuits |
| MIL-C-27212 | 7 conductor cables for 300 volt airport lighting control circuits |
| MIL-C-27500 | Shielded and unshielded aircraft and missile cables |
| MIL-C-36359 (S/B 38359) | (USAF) Power cable of two voltage ranges for airport lighting, 8 AWG, 3000-5000 volt, CCLP insulated (Shipboard 38359) |
| MIL-C-55021 | Cables, twisted pairs and triples, internal hook-up, shielded and unshielded |
| MIL-C-55036 | Telephone cable, WM130##/6 |
| MIL-E-9085 | (USAF) Electrical cord, WM-85/U |
| MIL-E-9088 | (USAF) Electrical cord, WF-15/U |
| MIL-R-833 (S/B 8333) | (USAF) RF cable, RG12/U (Shipboard 8333) |
| MIL-STD-122 | Color code for chassis wiring for electronic equipment |
| MIL-STD-681 | Identification coding and application of hook-up wire |
| MIL-W-76B | General purpose hook-up wire for internal wiring of electronic equipment. Temperature range of -40C to 80C.
Vinyl types LW, MW, HW for service up to 2500 volts, polyethylene type HF, 1000 volts |
| MIL-W-583 | Electrical magnet wire |
| MIL-W-3093 | Insulated wire, W-121, W-122, W-123, WD15/U, WD-16, WF-9/U, WT-3/U (distributing frame wires) |
| MIL-W-3104 | Insulated wire, No. 20 AWG, extra flexible |
| MIL-W-3861 | Uninsulated copper conductors. Solid, bunched, concentric and rope constructions |
| MIL-W-3975 | Electrical wire, tinsel |
| MIL-W-5086 | 600 volt aircraft wire using copper conductors |
| MIL-W-5088 | Installation of wiring and wiring devices in aircraft |
| MIL-W-5274 | Spec for aircraft wire. Type I 600V, Type II 600V, Type III 300V ratings |
| MIL-W-5569 | Insulated aircraft antenna wire, WS-5C/U |
| MIL-W-5845 | Iron and Constantan thermocouple wire |
| MIL-W-5846 | Chrome and Alumel thermocouple wire |
| MIL-W-5908 | Copper and Constantan thermocouple wire |
| MIL-W-6370 | Insulated wire for external aircraft antennas |
| MIL-W-7072 | 600 volt aircraft wire using aluminum conductors |
| MIL-W-7139 | 600 volt Teflon TFE tape insulated wire for aircraft and missile use |
| MIL-W-7500 | Electrical wire, WS-31-U |
| MIL-W-8160 | Installation of wiring in guided missiles |
| MIL-W-8777 | 600 volt aircraft wire with silicone rubber insulation |
| MIL-W-12341 | Uninsulated copper conductors |
| MIL-W-12349 | KEL F insulated hook-up wire |
| MIL-W-12410 | General purpose hook-up wire, similar to MIL-W-76B |
| MIL-W-13074 | Electrical wire, W-27 and WS-19U |
| MIL-W-13075 | Electrical wire |
| MIL-W-13169 | Electrical wire for instrument test leads |
| MIL-W-13241 | Electrical wire |
| MIL-W-16878 | Electrical hook-up wire. Includes vinyl types B, C, D - Teflon TFE types E, EE, ET - Teflon FEP types K, KK, KT -
silicone rubber types F, FF, FFW and polyethylene type J |
| MIL-W-19150 | Polyethylene insulated, nylon jacketed hard drawn copper wire |
| MIL-W-19583 | (Navy) Electrical wire, high temperature magnet wire, film insulated |
| MIL-W-21306 | Electrical wire, twisted pair, color coded switchboard |
| MIL-W-22759 | Teflon TFE insulated hook-up wire |
| MIL-W-25038A | 600 volt aircraft wire w/ asbestos insulation |
| MIL-W-27300 | Teflon insulated 600 volt aircraft wire |
| MIL-W-27500 | 600 volt aircraft wire w/ Teflon TFE insulation |
| MIL-W-81044 | Irradiated wire for aircraft and hook-up. Polyalkene and polyvinylidene flouride, Kynar |
| MIL-W-81381 | Electrical wire polymide insulated copper and copper ally, Kapton-H-Film |
| NAS-702 | General purpose vinyl insulated hook-up wire for 105C operation |
| NAS-703 | Teflon TFE insulated wire. Similar to Types E and EE of MIL-W-16878 |
| KYNAR | Pennwalt Chemicals registered trademark |
| TEFLON | DuPont registered trademark |
Military and government wire specifications are essential to help the performance, safety, and longevity of critical systems. With high standards for durability, environmental resistance, and performance, military cables are the backbone of defense and government operations.
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