INCH-POUND
MIL-S-8879C
NOTICE
NOTICE 3
OF CANCELLATION
24 FEBRUARY 2003
SUPERSEDING
NOTICE 2
12 AUGUST 1997
MILITARY SPECIFICATION
SCREW THREADS, CONTROLLED RADIUS ROOT WITH INCREASED MINOR
DIAMETER, GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR
MIL-S-8879C, dated 25 July 1991, and AMENDMENT 1, dated 2 September 1992, are
hereby canceled, and superseded by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
Aerospace Specification AS8879. Threads identified as Application Category
“Other Thread” in MIL-S-8879C are identified as “Category 1” threads in
AS8879. Threads identified as Application Category “Safety Critical Thread”
in MIL-S-8879C are identified as “Category 2” threads in AS8879.
(Application for SAE publications should be addressed to the Society of
Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096.)
Custodians: Preparing activity:
Army - AR OSD-SO
Navy - AS
Air Force - 11 (Project 53GP-0320)
AMSC N/A FSG 53GP
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
NOTICE OF INACTIVATION MIL-S-8879C
NOTICE 2
12 August 1997
SUPERSEDING
NOTICE 1
14 May 1997
MILITARY SPECIFICATION
SCREW THREADS, CONTROLLED RADIUS ROOT WITH INCREASED MINOR
DIAMETER, GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR
MIL-S-8879C, dated 25 July 1991, and AMENDMENT 1, dated 2 September 1992,
are inactive. Department of Defense (DoD) organizations may only use MIL-S-8879 for
reprocurement of previously designed items.
NOTES: 1. DoD will not maintain the technical contents of MIL-S-8879.
2. MIL-S-8879C has not been canceled. It is available for use by any private
sector firm, or non-DoD Government entity, that wishes to do so. See next
page for a clarification of MIL-S-8879C’s status.
3. Copies of MIL-S-8879C will continue to be available from the Defense
Automated Printing Service, Building 4D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia,
PA 19111-5094.
Preparing activity:
OSD - SO
AMSC N/A FSG 53
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A
INACTIVATION OF MIL-S-8879C
Clarification of Intent
The DoD has dramatically changed the way it buys new systems and equipment;
specifically, relying on performance specifications and leaving the responsibility for design
decisions and internal processes, such as quality control, in the hands of the manufacturer.
Military specifications and standards which prescribe particular design solutions and/or quality
control protocols are no longer being cited as requirements in solicitations for new designs or in
contracts for newly designed equipment.
In those situations where the use of performance specifications is not practicable, and a
suitable, industry-accepted replacement non-government standard does not exist, DoD is
retaining documents in “inactive” status. This means that DoD may only cite such a document
when reprocuring previously designed items.
What does DoD’s inactivation of MIL-S-8879C mean to the non-DoD user?
If you are a purchaser of fasteners (or other threaded devices) for which MIL-S-8879C is
cited on the drawing or in the technical data package, you may continue to cite MIL-S-8879C in
your contracts. On the other hand, you may want to consult with the design control authority for
the fastener/device application (typically the original equipment manufacturer of the end item on
which the fastener/device is used) to ascertain if another thread geometry standard is technically
equivalent and could be used without incurring unacceptable risk.
If you are the designer of an aircraft, or any system or subsystem intended for use on an
aircraft or other safety critical application, you need to fully understand the various thread
conformance verification methods cited in ASME B1.3M, “Screw Thread Gaging Systems for
Dimensional Acceptability -- Inch and Metric Screw Threads,” and the implications for safety-
critical applications of each method. In selecting a thread geometry standard, including
MIL-S-8879C, you should ensure that the included default verification method is suitable for the
intended application.
Any questions related to the inactivation of MIL-S-8879C should be directed to the
Office of the Secretary of Defense, Standardization Program Division, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite
1403, Falls Church, VA 22041-3466, or 703-681-9340.
