Find specifications and related documents

Application path: Main Menu → Mil-Spec or Non-Govt. Standards → choose a search type → Search.

Use Mil-Spec -or- Standard No. when you know the document identifier. Enter its full prefix and dashes. Use Mil-Spec Keyword Search when you know the subject but need to find the document number.

Search by a subject and choose a document

  1. Choose Mil-Spec Keyword Search.
  2. Enter screw and select Search.
  3. Compare the result's Document No., Title and Status.
  4. Select A-A-2484, titled SCREWDRIVER, FLAT TIP (NONSPARKING AND NONMAGNETIC) in this example.

Keyword search with screw entered and Mil-Spec Keyword Search selected

The keyword search returns a broad list of document references. The October 22, 2026 example begins with files, socket-head screw keys and screwdrivers. Compare the Title with the item you need rather than choosing the first match. A-A-2484, titled SCREWDRIVER, FLAT TIP (NONSPARKING AND NONMAGNETIC), appears among these results with Status A. Select its document-number link to open the document history explained below. Back to Search returns to the search form.

First rows of the screw keyword results, including A-A-2484

Search by an exact document number

Choose Mil-Spec -or- Standard No., enter A-A-2484, and select Search. The exact-number search returns the two displayed result rows. Select A-A-2484 to open its document history.

Exact-number Standards search form with A-A-2484 entered

Exact-number search results showing two A-A-2484 document rows

Read the document history

For A-A-2484, the detail screen lists separate document rows, including a base document, cancellation notice, reinstatement notice and later validation entry. Each row has these columns:

Column Meaning
Action View Document links to the file associated with this row.
Document Type Identifies the base document or notice type when supplied.
Document Date The date recorded for that document version or notice.
Pages The page count when supplied.

The example includes the August 15, 1988 base document with 2 pgs, an August 21, 2000 cancellation notice with 1 pgs, and an April 2, 2002 reinstatement notice with 1 pgs. Read the notice and its date when choosing a file; the rows represent different parts of the document's history.

A-A-2484 document history with all four rows

Choose View Document on the August 15, 1988 base-document row to open its two-page PDF in the browser. The first page identifies COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION — SCREWDRIVER, FLAT TIP (NONSPARKING AND NONMAGNETIC), document A-A-2484, dated August 15, 1988.

First-page heading and date from the A-A-2484 base document

Inspect associated documents

Select Assoc. Docs. to open the documents related to the chosen specification. The example lists references including MIL-STD-105E and MIL-I-17214B.

Spec No. identifies the related reference. Doc. Type supplies its type when present. Doc. Link provides View Document where a file is offered; a row can instead say Not Available. Use Back to return to the previous screen.

Associated-document rows for A-A-2484

The search form also offers an external non-government standards catalog. Its notice explains that non-government standards can involve copyright fees. The form states a limit of 24 military-specification downloads per 24 hours.