Convert NATO Angular Mils to Arcminutes
Convert NATO Angular Mils (mil (NATO)) to Arcminutes (′) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
′ = mil (NATO) × 3.375
About NATO Angular Mils
The NATO angular mil equals 1/6,400 of a full circle - π/3,200 rad ≈ 0.9817 mrad. Artillery and mortar crews rely on its practical small-angle equivalence: 1 mil at 1,000 m subtends ~1 m (exact: 0.9817 m), enabling rapid range correction calculations. The 6,400-mil circle divides cleanly: 1,600 mils = 90°, 3,200 mils = 180°. Note: 1 NATO mil ≈ 0.9817 mrad - not the same as a milliradian; the 1.8% difference equals ~18 mm at 1,000 m. 1° ≈ 17.778 NATO mils.
About Arcminutes
An arcminute (′) is 1/60 of a degree - π/10,800 rad ≈ 2.909 × 10⁻⁴ rad. One arcminute of latitude equals exactly one nautical mile (1,852 m), which is the origin of the nautical mile unit. The Moon and Sun both subtend ~30 arcminutes in apparent diameter - the coincidence exploited in total solar eclipses. Human 20/20 visual acuity resolves letters 5 arcminutes tall at 6 m. Binocular and telescope apparent fields of view are quoted in arcminutes. 1′ = π/10,800 rad ≈ 0.01667° ≈ 290.9 µrad.
Quick Reference Table
| NATO Angular Mils (mil (NATO)) | Arcminutes (′) |
|---|---|
| 1 mil (NATO) | 3.375 ′ |
| 2 mil (NATO) | 6.75 ′ |
| 5 mil (NATO) | 16.875 ′ |
| 10 mil (NATO) | 33.75 ′ |
| 25 mil (NATO) | 84.375 ′ |
| 50 mil (NATO) | 168.75 ′ |
| 100 mil (NATO) | 337.5 ′ |