- Missile designation
-
The U.S. Department of Defense established a missile and rocket designation sequence,[1] which is used in all weapons of the kind produced in the USA.Contents
Explanation
The basic designation of every guided missile is based in a set of letters, which are in sequence. The sequence indicates the following:
-
- The environment from which the weapon is launched
- The primary mission of the weapon
- The type of weapon
Examples of guided missile designators are as follows:
-
- AGM - (A) Air-launched (G) Surface-attack (M) Guided missile
- AIM - (A) Air-launched (I) Intercept-aerial (M) Guided missile
- ATM - (A) Air-launched (T) Training (M) Guided missile
- RIM - (R) Ship-launched (I) Intercept-aerial (M) Guided missile
The design or project number follows the basic designator. In turn, the number may be followed by consecutive letters, representing modifications.
-
- Example:
-
- RGM-84D means:
- R - The weapon is ship-launched;
- G - The weapon is designed to surface-attack;
- M - The weapon is a guided missile;
- 84 - eighty-fourth missile design;
- D - fourth modification;
- RGM-84D means:
-
- Example:
In addition, most guided missiles have names, such as Harpoon, Tomahawk, Seasparrow, etc. These names are retained regardless of subsequent modifications to the missile.
Code
First letter designating launch environment Letter Launch environment Detailed description A Air Air launched B Multiple Capable of being launched from more than one environment C Coffin or Container Stored horizontally or at less than a 45 degree angle in a protective enclosure and launched from the ground F Individual or Infantry Carried and launched by one man L Land or Silo Launched from a fixed site or hardened silo M Mobile Launched from a ground vehicle or movable platform P Soft Pad Partially or unprotected in storage and launched from the ground U Underwater Launched from a submarine or other underwater device R Surface ship Launched from a surface vessel such as a ship, barge, etc. Second letter designating mission symbol Letter Mission Detailed description D Decoy Vehicles designed or modified to confuse, deceive, or divert enemy defenses by simulating an attack vehicle E Special Electronic Vehicles designed or modified with electronics equipment for communications, countermeasures, electronic radiation sounding, or other electronic recording or relay missions G Surface Attack Vehicles designed to destroy enemy land or sea targets I Intercept-Aerial Vehicles designed to intercept aerial targets in defensive roles Q Drone Vehicles designed for target reconnaissance or surveillance S Space Vehicles designed to destroy space-based targets T Training Vehicles designed or permanently modified for training purposes U Underwater attack Vehicles designed to destroy enemy submarines or other underwater targets, or to detonate underwater W Weather Vehicles designed to observe, record, or relay data pertaining to meteorological phenomena Third letter designating vehicle type symbol Letter Vehicle type Detailed description M Guided Missile An unmanned, self-propelled vehicle with remote or internal trajectory guidance R Rocket A self propelled vehicle whose flight trajectory cannot be altered after launch N Probe A non-orbital instrumented vehicle used to monitor and transmit environmental information Prefixes
An X preceding the first letter indicates an experimental weapon, a Y preceding the first letter means the weapon is a prototype.
See also
References
- ^ "Designating and Naming Defense Military Aerospace Vehicles". Air Force e-Publishing. Air Force Departmental Publishing Office (AFDPO). 2005-04-14. http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI16-401_IP.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-29. (Attachment 4, pp. 20–24.)
External links
Categories:- Guided missiles
-
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
