Radar Bands

(Revised June 2024)

ITU Radio Bands

ITU Name

Bandwidth

Notable Uses

ELF

3 - 30 Hz


SLF

30 - 300 Hz

USN Project ELF/Seafarer (76 Hz)
Russian ZEVS ELF System (82 Hz)

ULF

300 Hz - 3 kHz


VLF

3 kHz - 30 kHz


LF

30 khZ - 300 kHz

LORAN-C (90-110 kHz)
AM Long-wave Radio (153-279 kHz)

MF

300 kHz - 3 MHz

AM Medium-wave Radio (530-1700 kHz)
LORAN-A (1.85 MHz & 1.95 MHz)

HF

3 MHz - 30 MHz

AM Short-wave Radio (9.4 – 9.9 MHz)
CB Radio (26.965 to 27.405 MHz)

VHF

30 MHz - 300 MHz

NTSC TV Ch 4 (66-72 MHz)
NTSC TV Ch 5 (76-82 MHz)
FM Radio (88-108 MHz)
NTSC TV Ch 7 (174-180 MHz)
NTSC TV Ch 9 (186-192 MHz)

UHF

300 MHz - 3 GHz

NTSC TV Ch 20 (506 -512 MHz)
Cellular 5G Low Band (600-900 MHz)
Cellular 5G Mid Band (1700-4700 MHz)

SHF

3 GHz - 30 GHz

Cellular 5G Mid Band (1700-4700 MHz)
Radar
Cellular 5G High Band (24 GHz-47 GHz)

EHF

30 GHz - 300 GHz

Cellular 5G High Band (24 GHz-47 GHz)
Fire Control Radar (MMW)

THF

300 GHz – 3 THz

Non-Ionizing Radiation
(Medical/Security Imaging)

IEEE Radio/Radar Bands

Source: IEEE Standard 521-1976, 30 Nov 1976; reprinted in Radar Cross Sections (2nd Ed) by Eugene F. Knott

NOTE: The Dark Gray Bands justified to right (I, G, P, Q, V and W) are approximate bands which are sometimes given band designations by IEEE engineers.

HF Radio

3 – 30 MHz

VHF Radio

30 – 300 MHz

(VHF) I Band

100 – 150 MHz

(VHF) G Band

150 – 225 MHz

(VHF/UHF) P Band

225 – 390 MHz

UHF Radio

300 – 1000 MHz

L Band

1000 – 2000 MHz

S Band

2000 – 4000 MHz

C Band

4000 – 8000 MHz

X Band

8000 – 12,000 MHz

Ku Band

12,000 – 18,000 MHz

K Band

18,000 – 27,000 MHz

Ka Band

27,000 – 40,000 MHz

Millimeter

40,000 – 300,000 MHz

(MMW) Q Band

36 – 46 GHz

(MMW) V Band

46 – 56 GHz

(MMW) W Band

56 – 100 GHz

NATO Radar/ECM Bands

Sources: AFR-55-44 (AR105-86, OPNAVINST 3430.9B, MEO 3430.1), 27 Oct 1964; reprinted in Radar Cross Sections (2nd Ed) by Eugene F. Knott

and

AFR 55-44 Performing Electronic Countermeasures in the United States and Canada (6 DEC 1978) (PDF)

A Band

0 - 250 MHz

B Band

250 - 500 MHz

C Band

500 - 1000 MHz

D Band

1,000 - 2,000 MHz

E Band

2,000 - 3,000 MHz

F Band

3,000 - 4,000 MHz

G Band

4,000 - 6,000 MHz

H Band

6,000 - 8,000 MHz

I Band

8,000 - 10,000 MHz

J Band

10,000 - 20,000 MH

K Band

20,000 - 40,000 MHz

L Band

40,000 - 60,000 MHz

M Band

60,000 - 100,000 MHz

World War II Radar Bands (US)

Sources:

  • Naval Radar by Norman Friedman

  • Wikipedia on MK III IFF (LINK)

  • FTP 217: US Radar – Operational Characteristics of Radar Classified by Tactical Application (LINK)

  • IFF Mk III Receivers Types R3120 & R3121
    (LINK to PDF) (LINK to Backup of PDF)

A Band (US Navy)
I Band (US Army)
Mark III (SCR-595) IFF

157 – 187 MHz

R Band
Mark III IFF

172-182 MHz

G-Band (Fighter IFF Only)
Mark IIIG (SCR-695) IFF

200-210 MHz

P-Band

200 – 500 MHz

L-Band

500 – 1500 MHz

S-Band

1500 – 5000 MHz

X-Band

5000 – 15,000 MHz

K-Band

15,000 – 40,000 MHz

NOTES: Friedman thinks that the reasoning for the various radar band letter designations was:

  • P = “Pulse Equipment” – the original US radar band

  • L = “Long Wave”

  • S = “Short Wave”

  • X = “Exotic/Short Microwaves”

  • K = “Klystron” due to the use of a Klystron generating tube in early K-Band systems.