Subject: 6.1. American aircraft designations
The US Air Force (and its predecessor, the US Army Air Force) has used
several aircraft designation systems in its history. The three most
important are the USAAF system adopted in 1924 and used through World War
II and up to 1948; the USAF system used from 1948 to 1962; and the
Tri-Service system adopted in 1962 to provide a common system for USAF, US
Army, and US Navy aircraft. The three systems are similar enough that they
can conveniently be described together.
A designation consists of a letter (or set of letters) indicating the type
and mission of the aircraft, and a sequence number indicating a specific
aircraft within a category, separated by a hyphen. The number may be
followed by a series letter to indicate a variant of an aircraft. Most
aircraft are also given a proper name, but this is not part of the formal
designation.
Mission codes used in the USAAF system included the following:
A = Attack
AT = Advanced trainer
B = Bomber
C = Cargo
CG = Cargo glider
F = Photographic reconnaissance
G = Glider
L = Liaison
O = Observation
P = Pursuit
PT = Primary trainer
R = Rotorcraft
UC = Utility cargo
The first version of a type had no series letter; the second was suffixed
with "A", the third with "B", and so on. For obvious reasons, the letters
"I" and "O" are usually skipped. For example, the B-29A is the second
version of the 29th bomber aircraft identified by the USAAF.
The USAF system (1948) was similar to the USAAF system; it retained the
three-part code, although the series letters now started with "A" for the
first version rather than the second. The mission codes were rationalised
somewhat; in particular, "F" for "Fighter" replaced "P" for "Pursuit", the
existing P-series aircraft being redesignated, and new aircraft receiving
F-series numbers continuing the old P-series. Similarly, "H" for
"Helicopter" replaced "R" for "Rotorcraft".
The Tri-Service system (1962) underwent further changes, although it still
retained the basic scheme of the older systems. The most important changes
were that the system now included Navy aircraft as well as USAF and Army,
and that most of the numeric sequences were restarted from 1, since some
were now well past 100 and were becoming unwieldy.
Starting from the central dash and moving *left*, the letter codes now
consist of up to four letters (although only the "basic mission" code is
mandatory, and I've never seen a real designation with more than three
letters).
(1) Vehicle type (optional; indicates something other than a conventional
fixed-wing aircraft):
G = Glider
H = Helicopter
V = VTOL or STOL
Z = Lighter than air
(2) Basic mission:
A = Attack
B = Bomber
C = Cargo transport
E = Special electronics
F = Fighter
O = Observation
P = Maritime patrol
R = Reconnaissance
S = Anti-submarine warfare
T = Trainer
U = Utility
X = Research
(3) Modified mission (optional; indicates that a type originally designed
for the mission indicated by its "basic mission" code has been modified for
a different mission); includes the A, C, E, F, O, P, R, S, T, and U mission
codes, plus:
D = Drone control
H = Search and rescue
K = Tanker
L = Cold weather
M = Multi-mission
Q = Drone
V = VIP or staff transport
W = Weather observation
(4) Status (optional; indicates any unusual status):
G = Permanently grounded
J = Temporary special test
N = Permanent special test
X = Experimental
Y = Prototype
Z = Planning
The sequence numbers are based on the vehicle type (if present) or the
basic mission. For example, all helicopters (vehicle type "H") are
numbered in a single sequence regardless of the basic mission code, while
conventional aircraft (with no vehicle type code) follow separate sequences
for attack aircraft, bombers, transports, and so on. There are a few
oddities here; for example, the AV-8 Harrier seems to have taken the number
8 slot in both the "A" and "V" sequences. For some reason, the "T"
(trainer) sequence, last seen in the Cessna T-47 in 1984, was restarted
with the Beech T-1 Jayhawk in 1990.
The system has not been followed perfectly; exceptions include the A-37
Dragonfly (attack version of T-37 trainer; should have been AT-37), F/A-18
Hornet (should have been just F-18, or possibly AF-18), FB-111 (bomber
version of the F-111; should have been BF-111), SR-71 (the letters indicate
"strategic reconnaissance", not an anti-submarine modification, and the
number is actually from the pre-1962 bomber series!), and a few others.
------------------------------
Subject: 6.2. US Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
Before the adoption of the Tri-Service system in 1962, the US Navy had its
own system of aircraft designations, completely different from that used by
the USAAF and USAF. This consisted of up to five parts:
(1) One or two letters to indicate the function. These included:
A = Attack
BF = Fighter-bomber
F = Fighter
HC = Transport helicopter
HO = Observation helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
J = Utility
N = Trainer
O = Observation
P = Patrol
PB = Patrol bomber
R = Transport
SB = Scout bomber
T = Trainer
TB = Torpedo bomber
W = Airborne early warning
(2) A sequence number, to distinguish between aircraft of the same function
built by the same manufacturer. The number was left out if it was 1.
(3) A letter to indicate the manufacturer. Because the US Navy used
aircraft from considerably more than 26 different manufacturers, most of
the letters of the alphabet were shared between several companies; the same
company frequently used more than one letter at various times. If the same
aircraft was built by more than one firm, the designation was changed to
reflect the individual manufacturers (for example, the Chance-Vought F4U
Corsair was also built by Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG).
Some of the most important manufacturers were:
A = Brewster, Noorduyn
B = Beechcraft, Boeing
C = Cessna, Curtiss
D = Douglas, McDonnell
E = Cessna, Piper
F = Fairchild, Grumman
H = McDonnell
J = North American
K = Fairchild, Kaman
L = Bell
M = Bell, Martin
O = Lockheed, Piper
Q = Fairchild
S = Sikorsky, Stearman
T = Northrop
U = Chance-Vought
V = Lockheed, Vultee
W = Wright
Y = Consolidated, Convair
(4) After a dash, a number to indicate a subtype.
(5) Optionally, a letter to indicate a minor variation on a subtype.
For example, the F4U was the fourth fighter designed by Chance-Vought for
the US Navy. The F4U-1A was a modified version of the first subtype of the
F4U. The F4U was commonly known as the Corsair, but, as with Air Force
types, the name was not part of the formal designation (Vince Norris, who
has quite a few hours in USN aircraft, reports that they were always
referred to by their designations, not the proper names; using names
instead of numbers was the mark of a civilian).
When the Tri-Service system was adopted in 1962, aircraft then in USN
service (as well as some under development or recently retired) were
redesignated under the new system. These included:
Convair F2Y Sea Dart = F-7
Douglas AD Skyraider = A-1
Douglas A3D Skywarrior = A-3
Douglas A4D Skyhawk = A-4
Douglas F3D Skyknight = F-10
Douglas F4D Skyray = F-6
Grumman A2F Intruder = A-6
Grumman F9F Panther/Cougar = F-9
Grumman F11F Tiger = F-11
Grumman S2F Tracker = S-2
Grumman W2F Hawkeye = E-2
Lockheed P2V Neptune = P-2
Lockheed P3V Orion = P-3
Lockheed T2V Seastar = T-1
Martin P5M Marlin = P-5
McDonnell F2D/F2H Banshee = F-2
McDonnell F3H Demon = F-3
McDonnell F4H Phantom II = F-4
North American AJ Savage = A-2
North American A3J Vigilante = A-5
North American FJ Fury = F-1
North American T2J Buckeye = T-2
Vought F8U Crusader = F-8
------------------------------
Subject: 6.3. USAF/USN fighters and attack aircraft
A complete list of US aircraft would take up far too much space; instead,
I've listed only the post-war "F" and "A" series, the ones most often asked
about.
One star indicates a type that existed only as one or more prototypes and
never entered service; two stars indicate a type that never left the
drawing board; three stars indicate that the number was never assigned at
all (as far as I could determine).
USAF fighter designations, since the initiation of the "F" series in 1948:
F-80: Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
F-81: * Convair XF-81 (experimental mixed-power jet/turboprop fighter)
F-82: North American F-82 Twin Mustang
F-83: * Bell XF-83
F-84: Republic F-84 Thunderjet/Thunderstreak/RF-84 Thunderflash
F-85: * McDonnell XF-85 Goblin (parasite fighter experiment)
F-86: North American F-86 Sabre
F-87: * Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk
F-88: * McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo
F-89: Northrop F-89 Scorpion
F-90: * Lockheed XF-90
F-91: * Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor
F-92: * Convair XF-92
F-93: North American YF-93 (F-86 derivative)
F-94: Lockheed F-94 Starfire (F-80/T-33 derivative)
F-95: North American YF-95 (redesignated F-86D)
F-96: Republic YF-96 (redesignated F-84F)
F-97: Lockheed YF-97 (redesignated F-94C)
F-98: Hughes F-98 Falcon (air-to-air missile; redesignated GAR-1,
later AIM-4)
F-99: Boeing F-99 Bomarc (ground-to-air missile; redesignated IM-99,
later CIM-10)
F-100: North American F-100 Super Sabre
F-101: McDonnell F-101 Voodoo
F-102: Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
F-103: ** Republic XF-103 (turbojet/ramjet hypersonic interceptor)
F-104: Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
F-105: Republic F-105 Thunderchief
F-106: Convair F-106 Delta Dart
F-107: * North American YF-107 (F-100 derivative)
F-108: ** North American XF-108 Rapier (long range interceptor and
XB-70 escort)
F-109: *** (never used)
F-110: McDonnell F-110 Spectre (designation used briefly for USAF
version of F4H/F-4 Phantom II)
F-111: General Dynamics F-111 (the common name "Aardvark" is
unofficial)
F-112: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-113: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-114: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-115: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-116: ***? (may have been attached to Russian aircraft)
F-117: Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
USAF/USN fighter designations, since the adoption of the Tri-Service
designations in 1962:
F-1: North American F-1 Fury (formerly FJ)
F-2: McDonnell F-2 Banshee (formerly F2H)
F-3: McDonnell F-3 Demon (formerly F3H)
F-4: McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (formerly F4H, briefly F-110)
F-5: Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II
F-6: Douglas F-6 Skyray (formerly F4D)
F-7: * Convair F-7 Sea Dart (formerly F2Y)
F-8: Vought F-8 Crusader (formerly F8U)
F-9: Grumman F-9 Panther/Cougar (formerly F9F)
F-10: Douglas F-10 Skyknight (formerly F3D)
F-11: Grumman F-11 Tiger (formerly F11F)
F-12: * Lockheed YF-12 (A-12/SR-71 derivative)
F-13: *** (never used)
F-14: Grumman F-14 Tomcat
F-15: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
F-16: General Dynamics (now Lockheed) F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-17: * Northrop YF-17 Cobra (lost to F-16 in Lightweight Fighter
contest)
F-18: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (YF-17 derivative)
F-19: *** (never used, at least officially)
F-20: * Northrop F-20 Tigershark (F-5 derivative)
F-21: IAI F-21 Lion (leased Kfirs, used as Aggressors in training)
F-22: Lockheed/Boeing F-22 Lightning II
F-23: * Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 (lost to F-22 in Advanced
Technology Fighter contest)
The Rockwell XFV-12 was number 12 in the "V" series, not part of the "F"
series.
USAF/USN attack designations, since the adoption of the Tri-Service
designations in 1962:
A-1: Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly AD)
A-2: North American A-2 Savage (formerly AJ)
A-3: Douglas A-3 Skywarrior (formerly A3D)
A-4: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (formerly A4D)
A-5: North American A-5 Vigilante (formerly A3J)
A-6: Grumman A-6 Intruder (formerly A2F)
A-7: Vought A-7 Corsair II (F-8 derivative)
A-8: British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas AV-8 Harrier
A-9: ** Northrop YA-9 (lost to A-10 in AX contest)
A-10: Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-11: ***? (apparently never used)
A-12: ** McDonnell Douglas A-12 (cancelled A-6 replacement)
The designation A-12 for the original, single-seat version of the aircraft
that became the SR-71/YF-12/M-21 was an internal Lockheed designation, not
an official USAF one (the A-12s were operated by the CIA and never
officially entered military service). The designation A-37 for the attack
version of Cessna's T-37 was derived from the trainer version of the
aircraft and was not part of the real "A" series.
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/rec.answers/3oD1OWSC37o
Subject: 6.5. Russian aircraft designations
In the 1920s and 1930s, many different designation systems were used for
Russian aircraft; the People's Comissariat of Defence had its own system,
and each manufacturer had another, usually based on the initials of the
designer or organisation (for example, A N Tupolev's ANT-6 was also known
as the TB-3).
Prefixes used included:
A = Autogyro
ARK = Arctic coastal reconnaissance
B = Bomber
BB = Short-range bomber
BSh = Armoured attack aircraft (Sh = Shturmovik)
DAR = Long-range arctic reconnaissance
DB = Long-range bomber
DVB = Long-range high-altitude bomber
DI = Two-seat fighter
DIS = Twin-engined escort fighter
G = Paratroop transport
I = Fighter (Istrebitel; literally "destroyer")
KOR = Ship-borne reconnaissance
M = Seaplane
MA = Amphibian
MBR = Short-range maritime reconnaissance
MDR = Long-range maritime reconnaissance
MI = Fighter seaplane
MK = Maritime cruiser (heavily armed seaplane)
MP = Transport seaplane
MR = Reconnaissance seaplane
MTB = Maritime heavy bomber
MU = Trainer seaplane
P = Mailplane
PB = Dive bomber
PI = Single seat fighter
PL = Transport
PS = Mail/passenger transport
R = Reconnaissance
ROM = Open sea reconnaissance
SB = High-speed bomber
SCh = Low-level attacker
SChR = Attack fighter/reconnaissance
SPB = Fast dive bomber
TB = Heavy bomber
TSh = Heavy attack aircraft
U = Primary trainer
UT = Basic trainer (Uchebnotrenirovochny)
UTI = Fighter trainer
V = Airship
VI = High-altitude fighter
VIT = High-altitude tank destroyer
VT = Supervised design
In the early years of WW2, a new systematic designation scheme was set up
for all Soviet aircraft (military and civil), based on (usually) the first
two letters of the designer's name; this replaced the former military
designation system. Later, as the original designers became the heads of
design bureaus (OKBs), and eventually retired or died, the original
initials were retained for all aircraft produced by each OKB.
The full designation consists of the OKB initials, a dash, a number to
indicate a particular aircraft type designed by that OKB, and optionally a
letter or letters (and sometimes numbers) to indicate a subtype. Unlike
the American system, subtype letters are not a simple alphabetic sequence,
but are assigned arbitrarily, sometimes to indicate some particular feature
of the subtype. Common suffix letters include "D" (long-range), "K" (which
can mean export, ground attack, or naval), "M" (modified), "P"
(interceptor), "R" (reconnaissance), "T" (transport), and "U" (trainer).
Stalin decided that fighters would be given odd numbers, while bombers and
transports would get even numbers; this rule largely fell out of use after
his death.
OKB abbreviations include the following (for those still in use I've added
a description of what the letters look like in the Cyrillic (Russian)
alphabet, since you will often see an aircraft's designation written on
it):
An = Antonov (AH)
Be = Beriev ([broken B] [reversed E])
Il = Ilyushin ([reversed N] [linked JI or inverted V])
Ka = Kamov (KA)
La = Lavochkin
M = Myasishchyev (M)
Mi = Mil (M [reversed N])
MiG = Mikoyan-Gurevich (M [reversed N] [gamma])
Pe = Petlyakov
Po = Polikarpov
Su = Sukhoi (CY)
Tu = Tupolev (TY)
Yak = Yakovlev ([reversed R] K)
The Lavochkin OKB still exists, but switched from aircraft to missile and
space technology in the 1950s. The Petlyakov and Myasishchyev OKBs are
really the same bureau, which was headed by Myasishchyev after Petlyakov's
death in 1942, disbanded in 1946, but revived in 1952 under Myasishchyev's
name. Polikarpov's OKB was disbanded after his death in 1944.
The remaining OKBs recently became companies in the wake of perestroika.
With the breakup of the USSR, Antonov is now a Ukrainian company; the rest
are Russian. Beriev has been renamed Taganrog (after the city in which the
new company is based), and Mikoyan-Gurevich is now just Mikoyan, but the
original abbreviations are retained in their aircraft designations.
One special case is the A-50 AWACS aircraft ("Mainstay"). This was a joint
venture of the Ilyushin and Beriev OKBs (providing the airframe and
electronics, respectively); the A-series designation, normally used by
Beriev to indicate a prototype or experimental aircraft, has been retained
for the production aircraft. Ilyushin used the designation Il-82 for the
airframe (following the Il-76 transport, Il-78 tanker, and cancelled Il-80
SLAR reconnaissance aircraft, all based on the same airframe); Beriev
argued that they had designed the most important part of the aircraft, so
an Ilyushin designation was inappropriate. They were still arguing when
the aircraft entered service, so its internal name of A-50 went to the
print shop.
A few cases where confusion has reigned should be mentioned; the present
climate of openness has allowed these to be settled. All Sukhoi "Flagon"
versions carried Su-15 designations; the later versions were not Su-21
(which in fact referred to Sukhoi's Su-27-derived supersonic bizjet
project, now abandoned). The designation Tu-20 was used for the early
"Bear" bombers ("Bear-A/B"), but was changed back to Tupolev's internal
designation, Tu-95, from "Bear-C" onwards (some later versions were
Tu-142). The Tupolev "Backfire" bomber is Tu-22M, not Tu-26 (this error
probably arose because the first prototype was designated Tu-126). The
"Fiddler", Tupolev's only production fighter, was Tu-128, not Tu-28 or
Tu-102. The Yakovlev "Freestyle" V/STOL fighter is Yak-41, not Yak-141
(the latter was a single prototype modified for record attempts).
Subject: 6.6. Russian aircraft codenames
During the Cold War, it was common for the West to know (or suspect) that
an aircraft existed in the Soviet inventory, but not know its correct
designation. Even when the USSR released publicity pictures of their
aircraft (or allowed Western journalists to film them flying past during
displays), the aircraft's name was usually never mentioned. Because of
this, a system of codenames was invented by NATO.
Each type was given a name starting with B for bombers, C for cargo or
passenger transports, F for fighters, H for helicopters, or M for
miscellaneous (everything else). Fixed-wing aircraft received names with
one syllable if they were propeller-driven, two syllables if they were jets
(there is no rule for the number of syllables in a helicopter's codename).
Variants were indicated by suffix letters (e.g. the fourth version of the
MiG-25 "Foxbat" to be identified became "Foxbat-D").
With the modern opening up of the Russian military, it's becoming more
common to refer to Russian aircraft by their real designations (now better
known in the West). Some recent types haven't been given codenames, and
the system seems likely to disappear altogether in the near future.
Four foreign-built aircraft have been given codenames: The Czech-built
Aero L-29 Delfin ("Maya"), at one time the standard Warsaw Pact jet trainer
(oddly, its successor, the L-39 Albatros, was never assigned a codename);
the US-built North American B-25 Mitchell ("Bank"), used by the Soviet air
forces for a while after World War II; and two Chinese types (see below).
Antonov An-2/3 = Colt
Antonov An-8 = Camp
Antonov An-10 = Cat
Antonov An-12 = Cub
Antonov An-14 = Clod
Antonov An-22 = ****
Antonov An-24 = Coke
Antonov An-26 = Curl
Antonov An-28 = Cash
Antonov An-30 = Clank
Antonov An-32 = Cline
Antonov An-72/74 = Coaler
Antonov An-74AEW = Madcap
Antonov An-124 = Condor
Antonov An-225 = Cossack
Beriev Be-2 = Mote
Beriev Be-6 = Madge
Beriev Be-8 = Mole
Beriev Be-10 = Mallow
Beriev Be-12 = Mail
Beriev Be-30 = Cuff
Beriev Be-40/42/44 = Mermaid
Chetverikov Che-2 = Mug
Ilyushin Il-2 = Bark
Ilyushin Il-4 = Bob
Ilyushin Il-10 = Beast
Ilyushin Il-12 = Coach
Ilyushin Il-14 = Crate
Ilyushin Il-18/20 = Coot
Ilyushin Il-28 = Beagle
Ilyushin Il-28U = Mascot
Ilyushin Il-38 = May
Ilyushin Il-40 = Brawny
Ilyushin Il-54 = Blowlamp
Ilyushin Il-62 = Classic
Ilyushin Il-76 = Candid
Ilyushin Il-78 = Midas
Ilyushin Il-86 = Camber
Ilyushin/Beriev A-50 = Mainstay
Kamov Ka-10 = Hat
Kamov Ka-15 = Hen
Kamov Ka-18 = Hog
Kamov Ka-20 = Harp
Kamov Ka-22 = Hoop
Kamov Ka-25 = Hormone
Kamov Ka-26/126/128/226 = Hoodlum
Kamov Ka-27/28/29/32 = Helix
Kamov Ka-50 = Hokum
Lavochkin La-7 = Fin
Lavochkin La-9 = Fritz
Lavochkin La-11 = Fang
Lavochkin La-15 = Fantail
Lisunov Li-2 = Cab
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 = Fargo
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 = Fagot
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15U = Midget
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 = Fresco
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 = Farmer
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 = Fishbed
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21U = Mongol
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 = Flogger
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23-01 = Faithless
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 = Foxbat
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29/30/33 = Fulcrum
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31 = Foxhound
Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-2A = Faceplate
Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-152A = Flipper
Mil Mi-1 = Hare
Mil Mi-2 = Hoplite
Mil Mi-4 = Hound
Mil Mi-6/22 = Hook
Mil Mi-8/9/17/171 = Hip
Mil Mi-10 = Harke
Mil Mi-12 = Homer
Mil Mi-14 = Haze
Mil Mi-24/25/35 = Hind
Mil Mi-26 = Halo
Mil Mi-28 = Havoc
Mil Mi-34 = Hermit
Myasishchyev M-3/4 = Bison
Myasishchyev M-17/55 = Mystic
Myasishchyev M-50/52 = Bounder
Petlyakov Pe-2 = Buck
Polikarpov Po-2 = Mule
Sukhoi Su-7/17/20/22 = Fitter
Sukhoi Su-7U = Moujik
Sukhoi Su-9/11 = Fishpot
Sukhoi Su-11U = Maiden
Sukhoi Su-15 = Flagon
Sukhoi Su-24 = Fencer
Sukhoi Su-25/28 = Frogfoot
Sukhoi Su-27/30/33/34/35 = Flanker
Tupolev Tu-2/6 = Bat
Tupolev Tu-4/80 = Bull
Tupolev Tu-10 = Frosty
Tupolev Tu-14/89 = Bosun
Tupolev Tu-16 = Badger
Tupolev Tu-20/95/142 = Bear
Tupolev Tu-22 = Blinder
Tupolev Tu-22M = Backfire
Tupolev Tu-70 = Cart
Tupolev Tu-82 = Butcher
Tupolev Tu-85 = Barge
Tupolev Tu-91 = Boot
Tupolev Tu-98 = Backfin
Tupolev Tu-104 = Camel
Tupolev Tu-110 = Cooker
Tupolev Tu-114 = Cleat
Tupolev Tu-124 = Cookpot
Tupolev Tu-126 = Moss
Tupolev Tu-128 = Fiddler
Tupolev Tu-134 = Crusty
Tupolev Tu-144 = Charger
Tupolev Tu-154 = Careless
Tupolev Tu-160 = Blackjack
Yakovlev Yak-6/8 = Crib
Yakovlev Yak-7U = Mark
Yakovlev Yak-9 = Frank
Yakovlev Yak-10 = Crow
Yakovlev Yak-11 = Moose
Yakovlev Yak-12 = Creek
Yakovlev Yak-14 = Mare
Yakovlev Yak-15/17 = Feather
Yakovlev Yak-16 = Cork
Yakovlev Yak-17U = Magnet
Yakovlev Yak-18 = Max
Yakovlev Yak-23 = Flora
Yakovlev Yak-24 = Horse
Yakovlev Yak-25/27 = Flashlight
Yakovlev Yak-25RV = Mandrake
Yakovlev Yak-27R = Mangrove
Yakovlev Yak-28 = Brewer
Yakovlev Yak-28P = Firebar
Yakovlev Yak-28U = Maestro
Yakovlev Yak-30 = Magnum
Yakovlev Yak-32 = Mantis
Yakovlev Yak-36 = Freehand
Yakovlev Yak-38 = Forger
Yakovlev Yak-40 = Codling
Yakovlev Yak-41/141 = Freestyle
Yakovlev Yak-42 = Clobber
Subject: 6.8. British aircraft designations
Unlike the US system, the proper name is the principal part of an
aircraft's formal designation in British service. The full designation
consists of the name, a letter or set of letters indicating the role, and a
mark number; in a few cases the mark number is followed by a letter
indicating a modification. The full designation is written as, for
example, "Tornado GR.1A", or sometimes "Tornado GR Mk 1A" (the Tornado GR.1
is the ground attack/reconnaissance version of the Tornado; the GR.1A is a
variant in which one of the two guns is replaced by reconnaissance gear).
For export versions, the role letters are usually left out, and the mark
numbers are restarted from a high number, usually 50 (for example, the
Indian Navy's Sea Harriers are Mk 51).
Before WW2, mark numbers alone were used, and were written in Roman
numerals; during the war, the role letters were added, and conventional
numerals were used for mark numbers above 20. The Roman numerals were
dropped altogether after the war; apart from that, the system has remained
largely unchanged.
Role letters (an asterisk indicates an obsolete code):
AEW = Airborne early warning
AH = Army helicopter
AL = Army liaison
AS = Anti-submarine (*)
B = Bomber
B(I) = Bomber/interdictor
B(K) = Bomber/tanker
B(PR) = Bomber/photo-reconnaissance
C = Cargo transport
CC = Communications (also used for VIP transports)
E = Electronic warfare
F = Fighter
F/A = Fighter/attack
FAW = All-weather fighter (*)
FB = Fighter/bomber (*)
FG = Fighter/ground attack
FGA = Fighter/ground attack
FGR = Fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance
FR = Fighter/reconnaissance
FRS = Fighter/reconnaissance/strike
GA = Ground attack
GR = Ground attack/reconnaissance
HAR = Search and rescue helicopter
HAS = Anti-submarine helicopter
HC = Cargo helicopter
HCC = Communications helicopter (also used for VIP transports)
HT = Training helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
K = Tanker
KC = Tanker/transport
Met = Weather reconnaissance (*)
MR = Maritime reconnaissance
NF = Night fighter (*)
PR = Photographic reconnaissance
R = Reconnaissance
S = Strike
SR = Strategic reconnaissance
T = Trainer
TF = Torpedo fighter (*)
TT = Target tug
U = Unmanned drone
W = Weather reconnaissance
------------------------------
Subject: 6.9. Canadian aircraft designations
The Canadian designation system is based on a simplified version of the
American system. A designation consists of the letter "C" (for Canadian),
a letter to indicate the aircraft's role, a dash, and a number, sometimes
followed by a letter to indicate a modification (usually "A" for a modified
version, or "D" for a dual-control trainer). The numbers are assigned in a
single sequence for all types in Canadian service, and are always over 100.
This has led to a few aircraft having a real designation that differs from
the one they're commonly known by; for example, the F-5 and F/A-18 in
Canadian service are usually referred to as the CF-5 and CF-18, but the
correct designations are CF-116 and CF-188, respectively.
Role letters:
C = Cargo transport
F = Fighter
H = Helicopter
P = Maritime patrol
T = Trainer
Types in current Canadian service:
CC-109 Cosmopolitan = Convair 440
CH-113 Labrador = Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
CT-114 Tutor = Canadair CL-41 Tutor
CC-115 Buffalo = De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
CF-116 = Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
CH-118 Iroquois = Bell UH-1 Iroquois
CH-124 Sea King = Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
CC-130 Hercules = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
CT-133 Silver Star = Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
CH-135 = Bell 212
CH-136 Kiowa = Bell OH-58 Kiowa
CC-137 = Boeing 707
CC-138 Twin Otter = De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
CH-139 Jetranger = Bell 206 Jetranger
CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus = Lockheed P-3 Orion derivative
CC-142/CT-142 = De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8
CC-144 Challenger = Canadair CL-601 Challenger
CH-146 = Bell 412
CC-150 Polaris = Airbus A310
CF-188 Hornet = McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
------------------------------
Subject: 6.10. Chinese aircraft designations
Chinese aircraft use a fairly simple system consisting of a letter or
letters to indicate the role, a dash, and a number, sometimes followed by
additional letters or numbers to indicate subtypes. The role letters are
often replaced by their English equivalents for export versions (for
example, the export version of the Q-5 (Qiang = Attack) is the A-5).
The numeric sequences always start with 5. Oddly enough for the last
bastion of Communism, this is the result of superstition; 4 is considered
an unlucky number in China (because the Chinese words for "four" and
"death" are very similar). The designation "J-2" for the licence-built
MiG-15 is an exception, probably allocated retrospectively, after the
Chinese and Soviet governments parted ways.
Role letters:
CJ (export PT) = Chujiao (basic trainer)
H (export B) = Hong (bomber)
J (export F) = Jian (fighter)
JJ (export FT) = Jianjiao (fighter trainer)
Q (export A) = Qiang (attack)
SH (export PS) = Shuihong (maritime bomber)
Y = Yun (transport)
Z = Zhi (vertical, i.e. helicopter)
Many Russian, and more recently Western, aircraft have been manufactured in
China and given Chinese designations. These include:
CJ-5 = Yakovlev Yak-18 "Max"
H-5 = Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle"
H-6 = Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger"
J-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15 "Fagot"
J-5 = Mikoyan MiG-17 "Fresco"
J-6 = Mikoyan MiG-19 "Farmer"
J-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21 "Fishbed"
JJ-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15UTI "Midget"
JJ-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21U "Mongol" (but see below)
Y-5 = Antonov An-2 "Colt"
Y-7 = Antonov An-24/26 "Coke/Curl"
Y-8 = Antonov An-12 "Cub"
Z-5 = Mil Mi-4 "Hare"
Z-8 = Aérospatiale AS.321 Super Frelon
Z-9 = Aérospatiale AS.365 Dauphin 2
Training versions of the J-5 and J-6 were built (JJ-5 and JJ-6); these had
no Russian counterparts (there was no MiG-17U or MiG-19U). Equating the
JJ-7 to the MiG-21U in the list above is slightly misleading, since the
trainer version was developed independently, not based on the Russian
trainer. Indigenous Chinese fighter designs have gone up to at least J-12,
although only the J-8 has entered service so far (see 2.3).
Two Chinese aircraft have been given NATO codenames: J-8 "Finback" and Q-5
"Fantan".
------------------------------
Subject: 6.11. German aircraft designations (WW2)
German aircraft were identified by two letters denoting the manufacturing
company, a number denoting the aircraft type (separated from the letters by
a space), and various modifiers for subtypes.
Manufacturer codes:
Ar = Arado
Ba = Bachem
Bf = Messerschmitt
Bü = Bücker
Bv = Blohm und Voss
Do = Dornier
Fa = Focke-Achgelis
Fi = Fieseler
Fl = Flettner
Fw = Focke-Wulf
Go = Gotha
Ha = Blohm und Voss
He = Heinkel
Ho = Horten
Hs = Henschel
Ju = Junkers
Me = Messerschmitt
Ta = Focke-Wulf
"Bf" for Messerschmitt came from Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, the company's
name before Willy Messerschmitt took over. "Ha" for Blohm und Voss came
from Hamburger Flugzeugbau, the name of the aircraft division of the Blohm
und Voss shipbuilding company. "Ta" for Focke-Wulf was used in honour of
designer Kurt Tank.
Type numbers were assigned by the RLM (air ministry); a single sequence was
used for all manufacturers. Related types were often given numbers
differing by 100; for example, the Messerschmitt Me 210 was designed as a
replacement for the Bf 110, and was developed into the Me 310 (abandoned
before flight) and Me 410.
Prototype aircraft had a "V" followed by a number identifying individual
aircraft, separated from the main designation by a space (e.g. Me 262 V1).
Major variants were denoted by a letter immediately following the type
number (e.g. Me 262A), minor variants by a number separated from the major
variant letter by a dash (e.g. Me 262A-1). Pre-production aircraft had a
zero in this position (e.g. Me 262A-0). Further variations on a subtype
could be denoted by a lower case letter attached to the variant number
(e.g. Me 262A-1a). Modified aircraft were indicated by "/R" or "/U" and a
number (e.g. Me 262A-1a/U5), or by "/Trop" (which I assume indicated a
tropical climate adaption).
------------------------------
Subject: 6.12. Japanese aircraft designations and codenames (WW2)
Japanese aircraft designations are a highly confusing subject, since four
different systems were in use simultaneously in Japan, in addition to the
codenames used by the Allies. The Japanese Army and Navy each used two
systems to identify the same aircraft, so a type used by both services
(there were a few) could theoretically have up to five different
designations -- Japanese Army Kitai number, Army type number, Navy
designation code, Navy type number, and Allied codename!
Just to confuse matters a bit further, a few types were known best by
nicknames that had no official status. The Mitsubishi A6M fighter, also
known as the Carrier-Borne Fighter Type 0, had the official Allied codename
of "Zeke"; but it went down in history under the unofficial nickname used
by both sides: "Zero".
The Japanese Army Air Force identified aircraft by "Kitai" (airframe)
numbers, which simply consisted of "Ki", a dash, and a number. Originally
the numbers were a simple numeric sequence; later, some randomisation was
added, as a security measure. Gliders received "Ku" ("Guraida") numbers
instead. Subtypes or variants were indicated by Roman numeral suffixes, or
by various Japanese abbreviations (a common one was "Kai" (for "Kaizo"),
indicating a major modification).
In addition to Kitai numbers, most Army aircraft also received a second
designation in a parallel system based on role and the year of entry into
service. Originally this was the last two digits of the year; 100 was used
for the Japanese year 2600 (1940), then the numbers were restarted from 1.
Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft received a designation code very similar to
those used by the US Navy. This consisted of a letter to indicate the
aircraft's function, a sequential number to indicate a specific aircraft
type (unlike the USN system, the number 1 was left in), and a letter to
indicate the manufacturing company. This was followed by a dash and a
number to indicate a subtype, plus an optional letter or letters for
further variations.
Function letters:
A = Carrier-borne fighter
B = Carrier-borne torpedo bomber
C = Carrier-borne reconnaissance
D = Carrier-borne dive bomber
E = Reconnaissance seaplane
F = Observation seaplane
G = Land-based bomber
H = Flying-boat
J = Land-based fighter
K = Trainer
L = Transport
M = Special-purpose seaplane
N = Fighter seaplane
P = Bomber
Q = Patrol
R = Land-based reconnaissance
S = Night fighter
Some manufacturer letters:
A = Aichi
D = Showa
K = Kawanishi
M = Mitsubishi
N = Nakajima
P = Nihon
V = Seversky
W = Kyushu, Watanabe
Y = Yokosuka
The IJN also used a parallel system based on role description and year
number, similar to (but independent of) the Army's, except that the year
2600 (1940) became 0 instead of 100. This system was abandoned in 1943,
when it was decided that revealing the year of an aircraft's entry into
service might give useful information to the enemy. Aircraft were then
given proper names instead.
Because the correct designations of Japanese aircraft were often not known
(and, as you've probably gathered by now, difficult to keep straight
anyway), the Allies assigned codenames to them. The basic rules for these,
not always followed, were:
Bombers, dive bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, seaplanes, torpedo
bombers -- Girls' names
Fighters, reconnaissance seaplanes -- Boys' names
Gliders -- Names of birds
Trainers -- Names of trees
Transport aircraft -- Girls' names beginning with "T"
The following list gives various designations for some of the more
important Japanese aircraft of WW2:
Aichi D3A = Navy Type 99 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Val
Kawanishi H8K = Navy Type 2 Flying-Boat = Emily
Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shinden = George
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu = Navy Type 2 Heavy Fighter = Nick
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien = Navy Type 3 Fighter = Tony
Kawasaki Ki-100 = Navy Type 5 Fighter
Kyofu N1K = Rex
Mitsubishi A5M = Navy Type 96 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Claude
Mitsubishi A6M = Navy Type 0 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Zeke
Mitsubishi F1M = Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane = Pete
Mitsubishi G4M = Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber = Betty
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden = Jack
Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane = C5M = Babs
Mitsubishi Ki-21 = Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber = Sally
Mitsubishi Ki-30 = Army Type 97 Light Bomber = Ann
Mitsubishi Ki-46 Shitei = Army Type 100 Reconnaissance Aircraft = Dinah
Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu = Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber = Peggy
Nakajima B5N = Navy Type 97 Carrier-Borne Bomber = Kate
Nakajima B6N Tenzan = Jill
Nakajima J1N Gekko = Irving
Nakajima Ki-27 = Army Type 97 Fighter = Nate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa = Army Type 1 Fighter = Oscar
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki = Army Type 2 Fighter = Tojo
Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu = Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber = Helen
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate = Army Type 4 Fighter = Frank
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei = Judy
Yokosuka P1Y Ginga = Frances
------------------------------
Subject: 6.13. Swedish aircraft designations
The aircraft designations used by the Swedish armed forces consist of a set
of letters to indicate the role, and a number to indicate an aircraft type,
with a space between them. A letter may be added after the number to
indicate subtypes.
The numbers are assigned in a single sequence for all types of aircraft.
The same number is always used for the same basic aircraft type, but the
prefix may be changed to indicate different roles.
Role codes (these may be combined, e.g. "JA" for fighter/attack):
A = Attack
B = Bomb
Fpl = Flygplan (aeroplane; used for multirole light aircraft)
Hkp = Helikopter
J = Jakt (fighter)
S = Spaning (reconnaissance)
SF = Spaning foto (photographic reconnaissance)
SH = Spaning havsövervakning (maritime reconnaissance)
Sk = Skol (trainer)
T = Torped (torpedo bomber) (obsolete)
Tp = Transport
The following types are currently in Swedish service:
Hkp 3 = Agusta/Bell AB-204 Iroquois
Hkp 4 = Boeing/Kawasaki KV-107 Sea Knight
Hkp 5 = Schweizer (Hughes) 300
Hkp 6 = Agusta/Bell AB-206 Jetranger
Hkp 9 = MBB BO 105
Hkp 10 = Aérospatiale AS.332 Super Puma
J 32 = Saab Lansen
J/Sk 35 = Saab Draken
AJ/AJS/JA/SF/SH/Sk 37 = Saab Viggen
JAS 39 = Saab Gripen
Sk 50 = Saab Safir
Fpl 53 = Dornier 27
Tp 54 = Piper PA-31 Navajo
Sk 60 = Saab 105
Fpl/Sk 61 = BAe Bulldog
Tp 84 = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Tp 86 = Rockwell Sabreliner
Tp 88 = Fairchild Metro
SH 89 = CASA C-212 Aviocar
Tp 100 = Saab 340
Tp 101 = Beech Super King Air
Tp 102 = Gulfstream IV
Subject: 6.8. British aircraft designations
Unlike the US system, the proper name is the principal part of an
aircraft's formal designation in British service. The full designation
consists of the name, a letter or set of letters indicating the role, and a
mark number; in a few cases the mark number is followed by a letter
indicating a modification. The full designation is written as, for
example, "Tornado GR.1A", or sometimes "Tornado GR Mk 1A" (the Tornado GR.1
is the ground attack/reconnaissance version of the Tornado; the GR.1A is a
variant in which one of the two guns is replaced by reconnaissance gear).
For export versions, the role letters are usually left out, and the mark
numbers are restarted from a high number, usually 50 (for example, the
Indian Navy's Sea Harriers are Mk 51).
Before WW2, mark numbers alone were used, and were written in Roman
numerals; during the war, the role letters were added, and conventional
numerals were used for mark numbers above 20. The Roman numerals were
dropped altogether after the war; apart from that, the system has remained
largely unchanged.
Role letters (an asterisk indicates an obsolete code):
AEW = Airborne early warning
AH = Army helicopter
AL = Army liaison
AS = Anti-submarine (*)
B = Bomber
B(I) = Bomber/interdictor
B(K) = Bomber/tanker
B(PR) = Bomber/photo-reconnaissance
C = Cargo transport
CC = Communications (also used for VIP transports)
E = Electronic warfare
F = Fighter
F/A = Fighter/attack
FAW = All-weather fighter (*)
FB = Fighter/bomber (*)
FG = Fighter/ground attack
FGA = Fighter/ground attack
FGR = Fighter/ground attack/reconnaissance
FR = Fighter/reconnaissance
FRS = Fighter/reconnaissance/strike
GA = Ground attack
GR = Ground attack/reconnaissance
HAR = Search and rescue helicopter
HAS = Anti-submarine helicopter
HC = Cargo helicopter
HCC = Communications helicopter (also used for VIP transports)
HT = Training helicopter
HU = Utility helicopter
K = Tanker
KC = Tanker/transport
Met = Weather reconnaissance (*)
MR = Maritime reconnaissance
NF = Night fighter (*)
PR = Photographic reconnaissance
R = Reconnaissance
S = Strike
SR = Strategic reconnaissance
T = Trainer
TF = Torpedo fighter (*)
TT = Target tug
U = Unmanned drone
W = Weather reconnaissance
------------------------------
Subject: 6.9. Canadian aircraft designations
The Canadian designation system is based on a simplified version of the
American system. A designation consists of the letter "C" (for Canadian),
a letter to indicate the aircraft's role, a dash, and a number, sometimes
followed by a letter to indicate a modification (usually "A" for a modified
version, or "D" for a dual-control trainer). The numbers are assigned in a
single sequence for all types in Canadian service, and are always over 100.
This has led to a few aircraft having a real designation that differs from
the one they're commonly known by; for example, the F-5 and F/A-18 in
Canadian service are usually referred to as the CF-5 and CF-18, but the
correct designations are CF-116 and CF-188, respectively.
Role letters:
C = Cargo transport
F = Fighter
H = Helicopter
P = Maritime patrol
T = Trainer
Types in current Canadian service:
CC-109 Cosmopolitan = Convair 440
CH-113 Labrador = Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight
CT-114 Tutor = Canadair CL-41 Tutor
CC-115 Buffalo = De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
CF-116 = Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
CH-118 Iroquois = Bell UH-1 Iroquois
CH-124 Sea King = Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
CC-130 Hercules = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
CT-133 Silver Star = Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
CH-135 = Bell 212
CH-136 Kiowa = Bell OH-58 Kiowa
CC-137 = Boeing 707
CC-138 Twin Otter = De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
CH-139 Jetranger = Bell 206 Jetranger
CP-140 Aurora/Arcturus = Lockheed P-3 Orion derivative
CC-142/CT-142 = De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8
CC-144 Challenger = Canadair CL-601 Challenger
CH-146 = Bell 412
CC-150 Polaris = Airbus A310
CF-188 Hornet = McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
------------------------------
Subject: 6.10. Chinese aircraft designations
Chinese aircraft use a fairly simple system consisting of a letter or
letters to indicate the role, a dash, and a number, sometimes followed by
additional letters or numbers to indicate subtypes. The role letters are
often replaced by their English equivalents for export versions (for
example, the export version of the Q-5 (Qiang = Attack) is the A-5).
The numeric sequences always start with 5. Oddly enough for the last
bastion of Communism, this is the result of superstition; 4 is considered
an unlucky number in China (because the Chinese words for "four" and
"death" are very similar). The designation "J-2" for the licence-built
MiG-15 is an exception, probably allocated retrospectively, after the
Chinese and Soviet governments parted ways.
Role letters:
CJ (export PT) = Chujiao (basic trainer)
H (export B) = Hong (bomber)
J (export F) = Jian (fighter)
JJ (export FT) = Jianjiao (fighter trainer)
Q (export A) = Qiang (attack)
SH (export PS) = Shuihong (maritime bomber)
Y = Yun (transport)
Z = Zhi (vertical, i.e. helicopter)
Many Russian, and more recently Western, aircraft have been manufactured in
China and given Chinese designations. These include:
CJ-5 = Yakovlev Yak-18 "Max"
H-5 = Ilyushin Il-28 "Beagle"
H-6 = Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger"
J-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15 "Fagot"
J-5 = Mikoyan MiG-17 "Fresco"
J-6 = Mikoyan MiG-19 "Farmer"
J-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21 "Fishbed"
JJ-2 = Mikoyan MiG-15UTI "Midget"
JJ-7 = Mikoyan MiG-21U "Mongol" (but see below)
Y-5 = Antonov An-2 "Colt"
Y-7 = Antonov An-24/26 "Coke/Curl"
Y-8 = Antonov An-12 "Cub"
Z-5 = Mil Mi-4 "Hare"
Z-8 = Aérospatiale AS.321 Super Frelon
Z-9 = Aérospatiale AS.365 Dauphin 2
Training versions of the J-5 and J-6 were built (JJ-5 and JJ-6); these had
no Russian counterparts (there was no MiG-17U or MiG-19U). Equating the
JJ-7 to the MiG-21U in the list above is slightly misleading, since the
trainer version was developed independently, not based on the Russian
trainer. Indigenous Chinese fighter designs have gone up to at least J-12,
although only the J-8 has entered service so far (see 2.3).
Two Chinese aircraft have been given NATO codenames: J-8 "Finback" and Q-5
"Fantan".
------------------------------
Subject: 6.11. German aircraft designations (WW2)
German aircraft were identified by two letters denoting the manufacturing
company, a number denoting the aircraft type (separated from the letters by
a space), and various modifiers for subtypes.
Manufacturer codes:
Ar = Arado
Ba = Bachem
Bf = Messerschmitt
Bü = Bücker
Bv = Blohm und Voss
Do = Dornier
Fa = Focke-Achgelis
Fi = Fieseler
Fl = Flettner
Fw = Focke-Wulf
Go = Gotha
Ha = Blohm und Voss
He = Heinkel
Ho = Horten
Hs = Henschel
Ju = Junkers
Me = Messerschmitt
Ta = Focke-Wulf
"Bf" for Messerschmitt came from Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, the company's
name before Willy Messerschmitt took over. "Ha" for Blohm und Voss came
from Hamburger Flugzeugbau, the name of the aircraft division of the Blohm
und Voss shipbuilding company. "Ta" for Focke-Wulf was used in honour of
designer Kurt Tank.
Type numbers were assigned by the RLM (air ministry); a single sequence was
used for all manufacturers. Related types were often given numbers
differing by 100; for example, the Messerschmitt Me 210 was designed as a
replacement for the Bf 110, and was developed into the Me 310 (abandoned
before flight) and Me 410.
Prototype aircraft had a "V" followed by a number identifying individual
aircraft, separated from the main designation by a space (e.g. Me 262 V1).
Major variants were denoted by a letter immediately following the type
number (e.g. Me 262A), minor variants by a number separated from the major
variant letter by a dash (e.g. Me 262A-1). Pre-production aircraft had a
zero in this position (e.g. Me 262A-0). Further variations on a subtype
could be denoted by a lower case letter attached to the variant number
(e.g. Me 262A-1a). Modified aircraft were indicated by "/R" or "/U" and a
number (e.g. Me 262A-1a/U5), or by "/Trop" (which I assume indicated a
tropical climate adaption).
------------------------------
Subject: 6.12. Japanese aircraft designations and codenames (WW2)
Japanese aircraft designations are a highly confusing subject, since four
different systems were in use simultaneously in Japan, in addition to the
codenames used by the Allies. The Japanese Army and Navy each used two
systems to identify the same aircraft, so a type used by both services
(there were a few) could theoretically have up to five different
designations -- Japanese Army Kitai number, Army type number, Navy
designation code, Navy type number, and Allied codename!
Just to confuse matters a bit further, a few types were known best by
nicknames that had no official status. The Mitsubishi A6M fighter, also
known as the Carrier-Borne Fighter Type 0, had the official Allied codename
of "Zeke"; but it went down in history under the unofficial nickname used
by both sides: "Zero".
The Japanese Army Air Force identified aircraft by "Kitai" (airframe)
numbers, which simply consisted of "Ki", a dash, and a number. Originally
the numbers were a simple numeric sequence; later, some randomisation was
added, as a security measure. Gliders received "Ku" ("Guraida") numbers
instead. Subtypes or variants were indicated by Roman numeral suffixes, or
by various Japanese abbreviations (a common one was "Kai" (for "Kaizo"),
indicating a major modification).
In addition to Kitai numbers, most Army aircraft also received a second
designation in a parallel system based on role and the year of entry into
service. Originally this was the last two digits of the year; 100 was used
for the Japanese year 2600 (1940), then the numbers were restarted from 1.
Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft received a designation code very similar to
those used by the US Navy. This consisted of a letter to indicate the
aircraft's function, a sequential number to indicate a specific aircraft
type (unlike the USN system, the number 1 was left in), and a letter to
indicate the manufacturing company. This was followed by a dash and a
number to indicate a subtype, plus an optional letter or letters for
further variations.
Function letters:
A = Carrier-borne fighter
B = Carrier-borne torpedo bomber
C = Carrier-borne reconnaissance
D = Carrier-borne dive bomber
E = Reconnaissance seaplane
F = Observation seaplane
G = Land-based bomber
H = Flying-boat
J = Land-based fighter
K = Trainer
L = Transport
M = Special-purpose seaplane
N = Fighter seaplane
P = Bomber
Q = Patrol
R = Land-based reconnaissance
S = Night fighter
Some manufacturer letters:
A = Aichi
D = Showa
K = Kawanishi
M = Mitsubishi
N = Nakajima
P = Nihon
V = Seversky
W = Kyushu, Watanabe
Y = Yokosuka
The IJN also used a parallel system based on role description and year
number, similar to (but independent of) the Army's, except that the year
2600 (1940) became 0 instead of 100. This system was abandoned in 1943,
when it was decided that revealing the year of an aircraft's entry into
service might give useful information to the enemy. Aircraft were then
given proper names instead.
Because the correct designations of Japanese aircraft were often not known
(and, as you've probably gathered by now, difficult to keep straight
anyway), the Allies assigned codenames to them. The basic rules for these,
not always followed, were:
Bombers, dive bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, seaplanes, torpedo
bombers -- Girls' names
Fighters, reconnaissance seaplanes -- Boys' names
Gliders -- Names of birds
Trainers -- Names of trees
Transport aircraft -- Girls' names beginning with "T"
The following list gives various designations for some of the more
important Japanese aircraft of WW2:
Aichi D3A = Navy Type 99 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Val
Kawanishi H8K = Navy Type 2 Flying-Boat = Emily
Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shinden = George
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu = Navy Type 2 Heavy Fighter = Nick
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien = Navy Type 3 Fighter = Tony
Kawasaki Ki-100 = Navy Type 5 Fighter
Kyofu N1K = Rex
Mitsubishi A5M = Navy Type 96 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Claude
Mitsubishi A6M = Navy Type 0 Carrier-Borne Fighter = Zeke
Mitsubishi F1M = Navy Type 0 Observation Seaplane = Pete
Mitsubishi G4M = Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber = Betty
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden = Jack
Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane = C5M = Babs
Mitsubishi Ki-21 = Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber = Sally
Mitsubishi Ki-30 = Army Type 97 Light Bomber = Ann
Mitsubishi Ki-46 Shitei = Army Type 100 Reconnaissance Aircraft = Dinah
Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu = Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber = Peggy
Nakajima B5N = Navy Type 97 Carrier-Borne Bomber = Kate
Nakajima B6N Tenzan = Jill
Nakajima J1N Gekko = Irving
Nakajima Ki-27 = Army Type 97 Fighter = Nate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa = Army Type 1 Fighter = Oscar
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki = Army Type 2 Fighter = Tojo
Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu = Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber = Helen
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate = Army Type 4 Fighter = Frank
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei = Judy
Yokosuka P1Y Ginga = Frances
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Subject: 6.13. Swedish aircraft designations
The aircraft designations used by the Swedish armed forces consist of a set
of letters to indicate the role, and a number to indicate an aircraft type,
with a space between them. A letter may be added after the number to
indicate subtypes.
The numbers are assigned in a single sequence for all types of aircraft.
The same number is always used for the same basic aircraft type, but the
prefix may be changed to indicate different roles.
Role codes (these may be combined, e.g. "JA" for fighter/attack):
A = Attack
B = Bomb
Fpl = Flygplan (aeroplane; used for multirole light aircraft)
Hkp = Helikopter
J = Jakt (fighter)
S = Spaning (reconnaissance)
SF = Spaning foto (photographic reconnaissance)
SH = Spaning havsövervakning (maritime reconnaissance)
Sk = Skol (trainer)
T = Torped (torpedo bomber) (obsolete)
Tp = Transport
The following types are currently in Swedish service:
Hkp 3 = Agusta/Bell AB-204 Iroquois
Hkp 4 = Boeing/Kawasaki KV-107 Sea Knight
Hkp 5 = Schweizer (Hughes) 300
Hkp 6 = Agusta/Bell AB-206 Jetranger
Hkp 9 = MBB BO 105
Hkp 10 = Aérospatiale AS.332 Super Puma
J 32 = Saab Lansen
J/Sk 35 = Saab Draken
AJ/AJS/JA/SF/SH/Sk 37 = Saab Viggen
JAS 39 = Saab Gripen
Sk 50 = Saab Safir
Fpl 53 = Dornier 27
Tp 54 = Piper PA-31 Navajo
Sk 60 = Saab 105
Fpl/Sk 61 = BAe Bulldog
Tp 84 = Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Tp 86 = Rockwell Sabreliner
Tp 88 = Fairchild Metro
SH 89 = CASA C-212 Aviocar
Tp 100 = Saab 340
Tp 101 = Beech Super King Air
Tp 102 = Gulfstream IV
airframe, with bifurcated variable inlets, fly-by-wire controls, and canards. The design was completed in 1975; however Chinese metallurgy, electronics, and machining skills in the mid-seventies were not up to the task and the project was cancelled in 1980. The much simpler J-8 “Finback” instead filled it’s intended niche in the PLAAF.
