TSEC-: Difference between revisions

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imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(New page: {{slashtitle|TSEC/ prefix}} Most U.S. government-approved communications security equipment has designations in the form '''TSEC/KG-99''', in which ''TSEC/'' (not...)
 
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
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{{slashtitle|TSEC/ prefix}}
{{slashtitle|TSEC/ prefix}}


Most U.S. government-approved [[information security|communications security]] equipment has designations in the form '''TSEC/KG-99''', in which ''TSEC/'' (note slash) is purely an identification for a designation system, not an abbreviation.  It complements the [[AN-]] system used for general military electronics, which does reserve certain of the letters in the AN/ system are reserved for NSA use.
Most U.S. government-approved [[information security|communications security]] equipment has designations in the form '''TSEC/KG-99''', in which ''TSEC/'' (note slash) is purely an identification for a designation system, not an abbreviation.  It complements the [[AN-]] system used for general military electronics, which does reserve certain of the letters in the AN/ system are reserved for [[National Security Agency]] (NSA) use.


While the [[#designation systems codes|designation system codes]] are quite complex and still contain special cases, the basic structure is:
While the [[#designation systems codes|designation system codes]] are quite complex and still contain special cases, the basic structure is:
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| -  
| -  
| -
| -
| -
| Advancing
|-
|-
| B
| B
|  -  
|  -  
| -  
| -  
| -
| Base of cabinet
|-
|-
| C
| C
| COMSEC equipment
| COMSEC equipment
|  -
|  -
| -
| Combining
|-
|-
| D
| D
|  -
|  -
| -
| -
| -
| Drawer or Panel
|-
|-
| E
| E
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Strip or Chassis
|-
|-
| F
| F
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Frame or Rack
|-
|-
| G
| G
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| Cryptographic ancillary
| Cryptographic ancillary
| -
| -
| -
| Keyboard
|-
|-
| I
| I
| -
| -
| Data transmission
| Data transmission
| -
| Translator or Reader
|-
|-
| J
| J
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Speech Processing
|-
|-
| K
| K
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| -
| -
| Literal conversion
| Literal conversion
| -
| Repeater
|-
|-
| M
| M
| Manufacturing
| Manufacturing
|  -
|  -
| -
| Memory or Storage
|-
|-
| N
| N
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| -
| -
| Multipurpose
| Multipurpose
| -
| Observation
|-
|-
| P
| P
| -
| -
| Materials Production  
| Materials Production  
| -
| Power
|-
|-
| Q
| Q
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| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Receiver
|-
|-
| S
| S
| Special purpose
| Special purpose
| Special purpose  
| Special purpose  
| -
| Synchronizing
|-
|-
| T
| T
| -
| -
| Testing, checking, maintenance
| Testing, checking, maintenance
| -
| Transmitter
|-
|-
| U
| U
| -
| -
| Television
| Television
| -
| Printer
|-
|-
| V
| V
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| Removable communications security component
|-
|-
| W
| W
| -
| -
| Teletypewriter
| Teletypewriter
| -
| Logic Programmer or  Programming
|-
|-
| X
| X
| -
| -
| [[Facsimile]]
| [[Facsimile]]
| -
| Special purpose
|-
|-
| Y
| Y

Revision as of 13:02, 23 March 2009

This article is developing and not approved.
 Main Article
 Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=TSEC-&printable=yes
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.
Due to technical limitations, this article uses an unusual title. It should be called  TSEC/ prefix.

Most U.S. government-approved communications security equipment has designations in the form TSEC/KG-99, in which TSEC/ (note slash) is purely an identification for a designation system, not an abbreviation. It complements the AN- system used for general military electronics, which does reserve certain of the letters in the AN/ system are reserved for National Security Agency (NSA) use.

While the designation system codes are quite complex and still contain special cases, the basic structure is:

  • First letter: What is its function?
  • Second letter: What information or physical materials does it process?
  • Optional third letter: What kind of component is it?

The next numbers indicate a main model number within the series, followed by a bewildering and inconsistent set of version levels, alternate configurations, etc. Sometimes, what may seem an incremental improvement gets an entirely new model number, while a radical change may get a version change only. In other words, grasp the general principles of the system, but know that you will have to examine a specific system to understand its designation nuances.

  • TSEC/KG-13 is a cryptographic key generator (code name PONTUS)
  • TSEC/KY-57 was a cryptographic speech encryptor (code name VINSON)
  • TSEC/KW-7 was a cryptographic key encryptor for asynchronous character data (i.e., "Teletype") (code name ORESTES)

Designation system codes

Letter Function Type Assembly
A - - Advancing
B - - Base of cabinet
C COMSEC equipment - Combining
D - - Drawer or Panel
E - - Strip or Chassis
F - - Frame or Rack
G General purpose Key generation -
H Cryptographic ancillary - Keyboard
I - Data transmission Translator or Reader
J - - Speech Processing
K Cryptographic - -
L - Literal conversion Repeater
M Manufacturing - Memory or Storage
N Non-cryptographic Signal conversion -
O - Multipurpose Observation
P - Materials Production Power
Q - - -
R - - Receiver
S Special purpose Special purpose Synchronizing
T - Testing, checking, maintenance Transmitter
U - Television Printer
V - - Removable communications security component
W - Teletypewriter Logic Programmer or Programming
X - Facsimile Special purpose
Y - Speech (ciphony) -
Z - -


References

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