Convert NATO Angular Mils to Binary Degrees
Convert NATO Angular Mils (mil (NATO)) to Binary Degrees (brad) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
brad = mil (NATO) × 0.04
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 Binary Degrees
A binary degree (brad) divides the full circle into 256 equal parts - π/128 rad ≈ 0.024544 rad (= 1.40625°). The 256-part circle maps perfectly onto an 8-bit byte, making binary degrees ideal for memory-constrained embedded systems: headings stored in a single byte (0-255) need no floating-point arithmetic. Game engines, CNC machine controllers, and digital servo systems use this representation. 16-bit BAM (65,536 per circle) gives ~0.005° (≈ 89 µrad) per unit for precision heading systems. 1 brad = 1.40625° = 84.375′.
Quick Reference Table
| NATO Angular Mils (mil (NATO)) | Binary Degrees (brad) |
|---|---|
| 1 mil (NATO) | 0.04 brad |
| 2 mil (NATO) | 0.08 brad |
| 5 mil (NATO) | 0.2 brad |
| 10 mil (NATO) | 0.4 brad |
| 25 mil (NATO) | 1 brad |
| 50 mil (NATO) | 2 brad |
| 100 mil (NATO) | 4 brad |