1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system

1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system
1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system
F-4B VMFA-513 1964.jpg
Prior to the 1962 tri-service designation system, the F-4 Phantom II was designated F4H by the U.S. Navy, and F-110 Spectre by the U.S. Air Force.

The 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified designation system introduced by the United States Department of Defense on 18 September 1962 for all the U.S. military aircraft. Prior to this date, each armed service used their own nomenclature system. Under the 1962 system, almost all aircraft receive an unified designation, whether operated by the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Navy (USN), United States Coast Guard (USCG), United States Marine Corps (USMC), or the United States Army. Experimental aircraft operated by manufacturers or National Aeronautics and Space Administration] (NASA) are also often assigned numbers in the X-series.[1]

The 1962 system was based on the one used by the USAF between 1948 and 1962. Since it was introduced, the 1962 system has been modified and updated; in 1997 a revised form of the system was released.[2]

Contents

Designation system

The designation system produces a Mission-Design-Series (MDS) designation of the form:

(Status Prefix)(Modified Mission)(Basic Mission)(Vehicle Type)  (Design Number)(Series Letter)

Of these components, only the Basic Mission, Design Number and Series Letter are mandatory. In the case of special vehicles a Vehicle Type symbol must also be included.

Vehicle type

The vehicle type element is used to designate the type of aerospace craft. Aircraft not in one of the following categories (most fixed-wing aircraft) are not required to carry a type designator. The type categories are:

A UAV Control Segment is not an aircraft, it is the ground control equipment used to command a UAV. Only in recent years has an aircraft been designated as a spaceplane, the proposed MS-1A.

Status prefix

These prefixes are attached to aircraft not conducting normal operations, such as research, testing and development. The prefixes are:

  • G: Permanently grounded
  • J: Special test, temporary
  • N: Special test, permanent
  • X: Experimental
  • Y: Prototype
  • Z: Planning

A temporary special test means the aircraft is intended to return to normal service after the tests are completed, while permanent special test aircraft are not. The Planning code is no longer used but was meant to designate aircraft "on the drawing board". For example, using this system an airframe such as the F-13 could have initially been designated as ZF-13 during the design phase, possibly XF-13 if experimental testing was required before building a prototype, the YF-13; the final production model would simply be designated F-13 (with the first production variant being the F-13A). Continuing the example, some F-13 during their service life may have been used for testing modifications or researching new designs and designated JF-13 or NF-13; finally after (many) years of service, the airframe would be permanently grounded due to safety or economic reasons as GF-13.

Basic mission

All aircraft are to be assigned a basic mission code. In some cases, the basic mission code is replaced by one of the modified mission codes when it is more suitable (e.g., MH-53 Pave Low III). The defined codes are:

The rise of the multi-role fighter in the decades since the system was introduced has created some confusion about the difference between attack and fighter aircraft. According to the current designation system, an attack aircraft (A) is designed primarily for air-to-surface missions (also known as "attack missions"),[3] while a fighter category F incorporates not only aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air warfare, but—additionally—multipurpose aircraft[4] designed also for attack missions. The Air Force, supposedly because of unpopularity of battlefield attacks in its ranks, has even assigned the F designation to attack-only aircraft,[5] such as the F-111 Aardvark and F-117 Nighthawk; presently, its only A designated aircraft is the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Of these code series, no normal aircraft have been assigned a K or R basic mission code in a manner conforming to the system.

Modified mission

Aircraft which are modified after manufacture or even built for a different mission to the standard airframe of a particular design are assigned a modified mission code. They are:

  • A: Attack (i.e. air-to-surface)
  • C: Transport
  • D: Drone director
  • E: Special electronic mission
  • F: Fighter
  • H: Search and rescue, MEDEVAC
  • K: Tanker
  • L: Equipped for cold weather operations
  • M: Missile carrier (1962 – c.1972), Mine countermeasures (c.1973–1976), Multi-mission (1977 onwards)
  • O: Observation
  • P: Maritime patrol
  • Q: Unmanned drone
  • R: Reconnaissance
  • S: Antisubmarine warfare
  • T: Trainer
  • U: Utility
  • V: Staff transport
  • W: Weather reconnaissance

The multi-mission and utility missions could be considered the same thing, however they are applied to multipurpose aircraft conducting certain categories of mission. M-aircraft conduct combat or special operations while U-aircraft conduct combat support missions, such as transport (e.g., UH-60) and electronic warfare (e.g., MC-12). The vast majority of U.S. Coast Guard air assets include the H-code (e.g., HH-60 Jayhawk or HC-130 Hercules).

Design number

According to the designation system, aircraft of a particular vehicle type or basic mission (for manned, fixed-wing, powered aircraft) were to be numbered consecutively. Numbers were not to be assigned to avoid confusion with other letter sequences or to conform with manufacturers' model numbers. Recently this rule has been ignored, and aircraft have received a design number equal to the model number (e.g., KC-767A[1]) or have kept the design number when they are transferred from one series to another (e.g., the X-35 became the F-35).

Series letter

Different versions of the same basic aircraft type are to be delineated using a single letter suffix beginning with "A" and increasing sequentially (skipping "I" and "O" to avoid confusion with the numbers "1" and "0"). It is not clear how much modification is required to merit a new series letter, e.g., the F-16C production run has varied extensively over time. The modification of an aircraft to carry out a new mission does not necessarily require a new suffix (e.g., F-111Cs modified for reconnaissance are designated RF-111C), but often a new letter is assigned (e.g., the UH-60As modified for Search and Rescue missions are designated HH-60G).

Non-systematic aircraft designations

Since the 1962 system was introduced there have been a number of non-systematic aircraft designations and skipping of design numbers.

Non-systematic or aberrant designations

The most common changes are to use a number from another series, or some other choice, rather than the next available number (117, 767, 71). Another is to change the order of the letters or use new acronym based letters (e.g. SR) rather than existing ones. It should be noted that since the DOD has final authority over its own rules, even non-systematic designations are both correct and official. In other words, even though it uses the system as its guideline for naming aircraft, it can approve whatever it chooses, and whatever is approved is "correct".

Designation conflicted with unrelated C-7 Caribou, redesignated EO-5C in August 2004.[6]
Originally, the Navy planned to have two variants of the Hornet: the F-18 fighter and A-18 light attack aircraft. During development, "F/A-18" was used as a shorthand to refer to both variants. When the Navy decided to develop a single aircraft able to perform both missions, the "F/A" appellation stuck.
  • Lockheed Martin F-35
The F designation is expected, but the series number 35 based on its X-35 designation, rather than the next available F- series number (24).
BF-111, or using a much lower number in the bomber series would have been more systematic but 111 was retained for commonality with the F-111.
Designated as part of series continuing from the pre-1962 system and latterly used to identify foreign aircraft acquired by the government,[7] e.g., YF-113 was actually a MiG-23.[8]
  • Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
The SR-71 designator is a continuation of the pre-1962 bomber series, which ended with the XB-70 Valkyrie. During the later period of its testing, the B-70 was proposed for the reconnaissance/strike role, with an RS-70 designation. The USAF decided instead to pursue an RS-71 version of the Lockheed A-12. However, then-USAF Chief of Staff Curtis LeMay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the reconnaissance aircraft to be named SR-71. Before the Blackbird was to be announced by President Johnson on 29 February 1964, LeMay lobbied to modify Johnson's speech to read SR-71 instead of RS-71. The media transcript given to the press at the time still had the earlier RS-71 designation in places, creating the myth that the president had misread the aircraft's designation.[9]
Uses its own modified mission letter (T for Tactical) with basic mission letter (R for Reconnaissance). Later redesignated U-2R after the end of the Cold War in 1991.[10]
Skipped hundreds of C- series numbers to use the company model number. Has correct basic mission and modified mission letters.

Skipped design numbers

The design number "13" has been skipped in many mission and vehicle series for its association with superstition. Some numbers were skipped when a number was requested and/or assigned to a project but the aircraft was never built. More information on the reasons behind the apparent skipping of design numbers can be found at Andreas Parsch's "Missing" USAF/DOD Aircraft Designations page.

The following design numbers in the 1962 system have been skipped:

Mission or Vehicle Series Missing numbers Next available number
A 8, 11 13 or 14
B 3
C 16, 30, 34, 36, 39, 42–44 47
D (Ground) 3
E 7 12
F 19, 24–34 24 or 36*
G 16
H 42, 49, 69 73
K n/a (K series was cancelled)
L 2
O 6
P 1, 6 9
Q 12, 13 19
R 2
S (ASW) 1 4
S (Spaceplane) Possibly 2
T 4, 5, 50 54
U 12, 14, 15 29
V 14, 17, 19, 21 24
X 23, 39, 52** 56
Z 4

*: 24 or 36 depends on future aircraft designations of the DoD.
**: The X-23 and X-39 designations exist, but were never officially assigned. X-52 was skipped to avoid confusion with the Boeing B-52.

Manufacturers Code

From 1939 a manufacturers code was added to designations to easily identify the manufacturer and the production plant.[11] The code was a two letters for example F-15E-50-MC the MC being the code for the McDonnell Douglas plant at St. Louis, Missouri.

Block number

In 1941 block numbers were added to designations to show minor equipment variations between production blocks.[12] The block number appears in the designation between the model suffix and manufacturers code (for example F-100D-85-NH).[12] Initially they incremented in numerical order -1, -2 , -3 but this was changed to -1, -5, -10, -15 in increments of five.[12] The gaps in the block numbers could be used for post-delivery modifications, for example a F-100D-85-NH could be modified in the field to F-100D-86-NH.[12] Not all types have used block numbers.

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c "DoD 4120.15-L, 'Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles'" (Portable Document Format). US Department of Defense. 12 May 2004. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/412015l.pdf. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 
  2. ^ Designating and Naming Defense Military Aerospace Vehicles, U.S. DoD, 14 March 2005.
  3. ^ DESIGNATING AND NAMING DEFENSE MILITARY AEROSPACE VEHICLES. United States Department of the Air Force. 14 April 2005. http://www.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI16-401%28I%29.pdf. Retrieved 29 January 2011. "Attack: Aircraft designed to find, attack, and destroy land or sea targets." 
  4. ^ 16-401(I), pp. 17, "F - Fighter Aircraft designed to intercept and destroy other aircraft or missiles. Includes multipurpose aircraft also designed for ground support missions such as interdiction and close air support."
  5. ^ Zarzecki, Thomas W. (2002). Arms diffusion : the spread of military innovations in the international system. New York [u.a.]: Routledge. p. 186. ISBN 0-415-93514-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=fhnixhMQqW8C&lpg=PA183&dq=Su-7B&pg=PA186#v=onepage&q=Su-7B&f=false. 
  6. ^ De Havilland RC-7B, designation-systems.net.
  7. ^ Patricia Trenner, A Short (Very Short) History of the F-19 Air & Space Magazine, 1 January 2008
  8. ^ FAS entry on the MiG-23
  9. ^ Non-Standard DOD Aircraft Designations. designation-systems.net
  10. ^ Jenkins, Dennis R. Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady, pp. 60–61. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press, 1998. ISBN 1-58007-009-4.
  11. ^ Andrade 1979, p. 8
  12. ^ a b c d Andrade 1979, p. 9
Bibliography
  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN ISBN 0-904597-22-9. 

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • United States Department of Defense aerospace vehicle designation — A United States Department of Defense aerospace vehicle designation is determined by a detailed protocol which identifies all aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, and other aerial vehicles in military use by the United States… …   Wikipedia

  • Joint Primary Aircraft Training System — Joint Primary Aircraft Training System, usually just called JPATS, was an aircraft procurement program of the United States in the 1990s by the USAF and USN, a merger of 1980s era training aircraft programs. The winner was declared in 1995 and… …   Wikipedia

  • 1962 in aviation — yearbox in?=in aviation cp=19th Century c=20th century cf=21st century yp1=1959 yp2=1960 yp3=1961 year=1962 ya1=1963 ya2=1964 ya3=1965 dp3=1930s dp2=1940s dp1=1950s d=1960s dn1=1970s dn2=1980s dn3=1990sThis is a list of aviation related events… …   Wikipedia

  • United States military aircraft designation systems — The United States Military Aircraft Designation System was first designed in 1919 when the US Army s Aeronautical Division became the United States Army Air Service. Before this aircraft were put into service under their manufacturers designation …   Wikipedia

  • U.S. DoD aircraft designations table — This is a table of 1962 United States Tri Service aircraft designation system with selected letter sequences and number. Two previous USAF/AAF/AAC number series are included due to their impact and partial incorporation into the tri service… …   Wikipedia

  • United States Air Force — USAF redirects here. For other uses, see USAF (disambiguation). The U.S. Air Force redirects here. For the song, see The U.S. Air Force (song). United States Air Force …   Wikipedia

  • United States Marine Corps Aviation — Logo for USMC aviation United States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories,… …   Wikipedia

  • Nomenclature des avions américains après 1962 — Cet article contient la nomenclature des avions militaires américains après 1962 par ordre de désignation. Elle est devenue officielle le 18 septembre 1962, lorsque le United States Tri Service aircraft designation system a unifié les codes de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of military aircraft of the United States — This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre production and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with X and are often… …   Wikipedia

  • McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet — F 18 redirects here. For the unstable isotope of Fluorine, see Fluorine 18. F/A 18 Hornet A U.S. Marine Corps F/A 18C …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”