Product Overview
RCA RE18 Radiation-Enhanced Monolithic IC, TO-99 8-Lead Metal Can, Unused NOS, Date Code 7624
Condition
Unused NOS. Sourced from a government research facility. Body is clean and pristine with light surface patina on the metal can - consistent with decades of proper storage. Markings are legible: RE18 and date code 7624 (week 24, 1976) visible on the TO-99 can. Photos show the specific unit you will receive.
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Product Overview
RCA RE18 - a radiation-hardened monolithic integrated circuit from RCA's Radiation-Enhanced (RE) defense line, produced in 1976. Hermetically sealed TO-99 8-lead metal can, approximately 9 mm across the base flange. The RE prefix identifies this as part of RCA's proprietary high-reliability linear series developed for military, aerospace, and satellite subsystems requiring resistance to total ionizing dose (TID) radiation and neutron bombardment. Date code 7624 confirms manufacture in the 24th week of 1976. Standard commercial op-amps were never designed for these environments - the RE18 was.
Key Features
- RCA Radiation-Enhanced (RE) series - purpose-built for high TID and neutron bombardment environments
- Hermetically sealed TO-99 metal can package - 8-lead, approximately 9 mm body diameter
- Monolithic linear IC construction - hardened against parameter drift and latch-up in radiation-exposed circuits
- Date code 7624 - manufactured week 24, 1976; confirmed by molded markings on the can
- Sourced from a government research facility - consistent provenance for aerospace and defense applications
- Unused NOS condition - no soldering, no lead damage, no prior installation
Applications
- Aerospace and defense repair technicians replacing a failed rad-hard op-amp in a legacy avionics unit where a standard commercial IC would not survive the radiation environment
- Military radar and satellite subsystem restoration work where the original TO-99 socket demands a radiation-hardened monolithic device and substitution is not permitted by spec
- Government contractor depot-level repair of vintage instrumentation originally designed around RCA RE-series components
- Serious vintage electronics collectors restoring historically significant aerospace or scientific equipment to original specification - authenticity matters as much as function
- Hobbyist retro-engineers building or experimenting with radiation-tolerant analog circuits, or acquiring a genuine 1976 aerospace-grade metal can for a display or reference collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a genuine RCA RE-series radiation-hardened component?
Yes. The TO-99 metal can carries legible markings: RE18 and date code 7624. Sourced from a government research facility. RE-prefix components are RCA's proprietary Radiation-Enhanced high-reliability linear line developed specifically for military, aerospace, and satellite applications.
What is the pin count and package type?
TO-99 metal can, 8-lead. Body diameter is approximately 9 mm across the base flange, consistent with standard TO-99 dimensions. Verify your board footprint and socket before ordering.
Is a datasheet included?
No datasheet is included. No specific datasheet for the RE18 was located in our research. Buyers working on legacy aerospace or military systems should consult their system documentation or period RCA Linear Integrated Circuits databooks for pinout and electrical parameters.
Is the function confirmed as an operational amplifier?
The RE18 belongs to RCA's Radiation-Enhanced monolithic linear series. Research and provenance indicate it is an operational amplifier or reference array. Exact functional block is not confirmed without a datasheet - buyers should verify against their system's original component documentation before installation.
Will this work as a drop-in replacement for a standard commercial op-amp?
Not recommended for general-purpose or hobbyist analog circuits. The RE18 is a specialized rad-hard device designed for radiation-exposed military and aerospace environments. Its value is in that specific capability. A standard commercial op-amp is the right choice for ordinary applications.
A hermetically sealed metal can that spent nearly five decades in government storage, untouched - and it still carries the original markings clean enough to read. Wherever it lands next, it was built to stay put.
