The NATO Phonetic Alphabet: History and Standardization (nato.int)

• The ITU created the first internationally recognized phonetic alphabet in 1927.
• NATO adopted the final alphabet in 1956 after ICAO approval, using 'November' for N.
• The alphabet became universal for all military, civilian, and amateur radio communications.

"This article details the evolution of the NATO phonetic alphabet, tracing its roots from early ITU alphabets in the 1920s to the US Able Baker alphabet and finally NATO's adoption in 1956. It highlights the alphabet's role in enabling clear communication across military and civilian domains."