List of U.S. DoD aircraft designations

Last updated

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 system (A, B, C, F and O reset to one, but # carryover existed).

The United States department of Defense was established in 1949, the old name Department of War was retired in 1947. In 1962 separate aircraft naming schemes were unified, but out convenience many numbers carried over. For example, the P-38 Lightning, which also was used as the F-4 and F-5 for reconnaissance and FO in the Navy, became the F-38. In 1948 the Pursuit series designated P, switched to being called F for fighter, which was continued in 1962. Much later the B series were restarted back at 1, but numbered additions began being made where the old C left off in the 21st century.

Table key
white 1962 Tri-Service designations and carried-over 1924 Air Force designations
yellow 1924 Air Force designations (select sequences only)
blue 1922 Navy designations (select designations only)
green 1956 Army designations (select designations only)
struckDesignation skipped
11italicsNon-sequential designation
(parentheses)No plain designation exists, only designations with mission modifiers and/or status prefixes (most common designation shown)
Designation not assigned
A 1962 redesignations from the 1956 Army system
AF1962 redesignations from the 1924 Air Force system
N1962 redesignations from the 1922 Navy system
RDesignation retired prior to the founding of the Department of Defense
*Unconfirmed
Reserved but not taken up
Unofficial

Table of designations

Table of DoD aircraft designations: Basic Mission and Vehicle Type
Post 1962 Series with selected Pre-1962 USAF/AAF/AAC number series
#AA
Navy
pre-1962
BB
1930–62
C
1962–
present
C
1924–
present
D [lower-alpha 1] EF
1962–
present
F
Navy
pre-1962
F (P) [lower-alpha 2]
1924–62
GH
1962–
present
H
Army
pre-1962
H (R) [lower-alpha 3]
1941–
present
LOPQRR (F) [lower-alpha 4]
1930–62
S
Anti-
submarine
S
Space-
plane
SR [lower-alpha 5] RS
1960–62
T [lower-alpha 6]
1948–
present
T
1962
T
1990–
present
UVX (S) [lower-alpha 7] Z
1 A1 N
(OA1K)
AD B1 (XB1)R C1 N C1 R(MD1) E1 N F1  /  E/F N FJ P1 R(TG1)(AH1  /  J/T/W  /  Z)
(UH1  /  N  /  Y)A, AF
HU1 (XR1)R(YAL1) O1 AF, NP1(MQ1  /  C)(TR1) F1 RS1(XS1) T1 N T1 U1 N(OV1)A(XS1)R
X1
(SZ1)N
2 A2 N AJ B2 B2 R C2 C2 R(RD2) E2 N F2 N F2H P2 R(TG2)(SH2  /  G)N(XR2)R O2 P2 N(RQ2) F2 R S2 N T2 NT2 U2 (CV2)A(XS2)R
X2
(EZ2)
3 A3 N A3D B3 R(VC3)N C3 R(MD3) E3 F3 N F3H P3 R(TG3)(SH3)N
(CH3C/E)
(XR3)R(YO3) P3 N
(EP3)
(WP3D)
(RQ3) F3 R S3 T3 U3 AF(XV3)(XS3)R
X3
(MZ3)
4 A4 N A4D B4 R(TC4)N C4 R(MD4) E4 F4 AF, N F4H (XP4 (1926))R
(XP4 (1927))R
(TG4)(YOH4)A(YHO4) R4 R(ZO4)*(QP4)N(RQ4)
(MQ4C)
F4 RT4 U4 AF(XV4)A(XS4)R
X4
(RZ4)
5 A5 N A3J B5 R C5 C5 R(ZMD5)(YE5) F5  /  G P5 R(TG5)(YOH5)A(YHO5) R5 R
H5
O5 P5 N(RQ5) F5 RT5 U5 (XV5)A(XS5)R
X5
6 A6 N
(EA6B)
A2F B6 R(VC6) C6 R E6 F6 N F4D P6 R(TG6)(AH6)
(MH6)
(OH6)A
(YHO6) R6 R
H6
(RO6)P6(RQ6) F6 R T6 R T6 U6 AF(XV6) X6
7 A7  /  F (Y1B7)R C7
(RC7)
C7 R E7(YF7)N F2Y (XP7)R(TG7)(XR7)R
P7 (RQ7) F7 R T7 R T7 U7 AF(CV7)A X7
8 A8*(XB8)R C8 (XC8)R E8 F8 N F8U (XP8)R(RG8)(XR8)R
P8 (MQ8  /  C) F8 R U8 AF(XV8)
(AV8  /  B)
X8
9(YA9)(YB9)R C9 C9 R E9 F9  /  F/J N F9F  /  -6/8 (XP9)R(TG9)(XR9)R
(XH9)
P9 (MQ9) F9 R U9 AF(XV9) X9
10 A10 B10 R C10
(KC10)
(XC10)R E10 F10 N F3D (XP10)R(TG10)(XR10)R
(XH10)
(CQ10) F10 R U10 AF(OV10) X10
11A11(YB11)R(VC11) C11 R E11 F11 N F11F P11 R(TG11)(XR11)R
(XH11)
(RQ11)(XF11)R
(XR11)
T11 R U11 N(XV11) X11
12 A12 B12 R C12
(RC12)
(Y1C12)R(YF12  /  C) P12 R(TG12) R12 R
(YH12)
(RQ12)(XF12)R
(XR12)
U12(XFV12)
(OV12)
X12
13 [lower-alpha 8] A13(YB13)RC13C13F13(XP13)RG13(YR13)R
H13  /  J
Q13 F13 R T13A R
T13B/D R
U13V13 X13
14 A14(XB14)R(YC14) C14 R F14 (XP14)R(TG14)(XR14)R
(RQ14) F14 RU14V14 X14
15(XB15)R(YC15) C15 R F15  /  E  /  EX  /  J
(NF15B)
(XP15)R(TG15A  /  B)(XR15)R
(XH15)
(RQ15) F15 RU15(XV15) X15
16(XB16)RC16(YC16)R F16  /  XL
(NF16D)
P12 R(TG16)(XR16)R
(YH16)
(RQ16)(XR16)(HU16)AF, N(AV16)‡ X16
17 B17 C17 (Y1C17)R(YF17)(XP17)R(XH17)(MQ17) T17 R U17 V17 X17
18 F/A18  /  E/F
(EA18G)
B18 R C18 (Y1C18)R F/A18  /  E/F (XP18)R(XH18)(YMQ18) U18 AF(UV18) X18
19(XB19)R C19 (Y1C19)R F19 (XP19)R H19 (MQ19) T19 R U19 AFV19 X19
20(Y1B20)R
B20
C-20A/D
C-20F/J
(YC20)R F20 (YP20)R(XH20)(MQ20)
(RQ20)
U20 AF(UV20) X20
21 B-21 (XB21)R C21 C21 R F21 (XP21)R H21 (RQ21) U21 V21 X21
22 F/A-22 (FB22)(XB22)R C22 C22 R(YF22)
F22
(XP22)R(YH22)(RQ22)(QU22) V22 X22
23 B23 R C23 C23 R(YF23)(YP23)R H23 (RQ23)(AU23)(UV23) X23
24 B24 (EC24)(Y1C24)R(YF24)*(YP24)R
F24
(YH24)(CQ24)(AU24)(XV24) X24  /  C
25 B25 (VC25)(Y1C25)R(Y1P25)R H25 (MQ25) U25
(HU25)
X25
26 A-26 B26 R
B-26
C26 C26 R P26 R(XH26)(RQ26) U26 X26
27(XB27)R C27  /  J C27 R(YP27)R(XH27)(MQ27) U27 X27
28(XB28)R C28 C28 R(Y1P28)R(XH28) T28 U28 X28
29 A-29 B29  /  D
(KB29)
C29 C29 R P29 R(XH29) T29 X29
30(XB30)RC30(YC30)R P30 R(YH30)(XT30) X30
31(XB31)R C31 (XC31)R(XP31)R(VH31) T31 X31
32 B32 R C32 C32 R(XP32)R(YH32)(YT32) X32
33(XB33)R C33 C33 R(XP33)R(XH33) T33
(NT33A)
X33
34 B34 RC34 C34 R(XP34)R H34 T34 X34
35(YB35)(UC35)(XC35)R F-35 P35 R(XH35) T35 X35
36 B36  /  G
(NB36H)
(YFC36)* C36 R P36 RH36†(XT36) X36
37 A37
(EA37)
B37 R C37A
C37B
C37 R(YP37)R H37 T37 X37
38(XB38)R C38 C38 R P38 R
(ZF38)
H38† T38 (RU38) X38
39(XB39)RC39 C39 R P39  /  E R
(ZF39)
(XH39) T39 X39
40(YB40)R C40 C40 R P40 R
(ZF40)
(YH40) T40 X40
41(XB41)R C41 C41 R
C41A R
(XP41)R(UH41) T41
T41
X41
42(XB42)C42 C42 R(XP42)R(XH42) T42 (1952)
T42 (1960)
X42
43(XB43)C43 C43 P43 R H43 T43 X43
44(XB44)RC44 C44 R P44 RH44† T44 X44
X44A
45 B45 (KC45) C45 P45 RH45† T45 X45
46(XB46)(KC46) C46 (XP46)R(YHC1A)(CH46) T46 X46
47 B47  /  C C47  /  F
AC47
P47 R
F47
(YHC1B)(CH47) T47
(OT47B)
X47A  /  B  /  C
48(XB48) C48 R(XP48)R(XH48)(YT48)
T48TS
X48
49(YB49) C49 R(XP49)R(XH49)(CT49) X49
50 B50  /  C C50 R(XP50)R(QH50) T50 X50
51(XB51) C51 R P51 R
F51
(XH51) T51 X51
52 B52 C52 R(XP52)R(HH52) T52 X52
53(XB53) C53 (XP53)R(CH53  /  E  /  K)
(MH53)
T53 X53
54 B54 C54 (XP54)R(CH54) T53 X54
55(XB55) C55 R(XP55)R(TH55) T54 X55
56(XB56) C56 R(XP56)R(AH56) X56
57 B57
(RB57D  /  F)
C57 R(XP57)R(TH57) X57
58 B58 C58 R(XP58)R(OH58)(XQ58)X58
59(XB59) C59 R(XP59)R
P59 R
(ZF59)
(XH59) X59
60(YB60) C60 R P60 R(HH60)
(MH60)
(SH60)
(UH60)
X60
61 B61 (UC61)R P61 R
F61
(RF61C)
(YUH61) X61
62 B62 C62 R(XP62)R(XCH62) X62
63 B63 C63 R P63 R
(QF63)
(YAH63)X63
64 B64 C64 P64 R(AH64)X64
65 B65 (XC65)R(XP65)R(MH65) X65
66 B66 C66 R P66 R(RAH66) X66
67(XB67) C67 R(XP67)R(TH67)
68(XB68)
B68
C68 R(XP68)R(MH68)
69(RB69) C69 (XP69)RH69
70(XB70)(UC70  /  B)R P70 R(ARH70) RS70
71 B71 (UC71)R(XP71)R(VH71) SR71 AF RS71
72(UC72)R(XP72)R(UH72)(XRQ72) SR72
73 C73 R(XP73)R‡(TH73)
74 C74 P74
75 C75 R P75 R
76 C76 R P76 R
77(UC77  /  B/D)R(XP77)R
78 C78 R(XP78)R
79 C79 R(XP79)R
80(UC80)R P80 R
F80
81(UC81)R(XP81)R
(XZF81)
82 C82 P82 R
F82
83(UC83  /  A  /  B)R(XP83)R
(XF83)
84 C84 R P84 R
F84  /  F  /  H
85(UC85)R(XP85)R
(XF85)
86(UC86)R P86 R
F86  /  C  /  D
87 C87 R(XP87)R
(XF87)
88(UC88)R(XP88)R
(XF88)
89(UC89)R(XP89)R
F89
90(UC90)R(XP90)R
(XF90)
(MH90)
91 C91 R(XP91)R
(XF91)
92(UC92)R(XP92)R
(XF92)
H92
(VH92)
93 C93 R(YF93)
94(UC94)R F94
95(UC95)R F95
96(UC96)R(XF96)
97 C97
(KC97)
F97
98 C98 R F98
99(XC99)(YF99)
100(UC100)R F100  /  B
101(UC101)R F101
102(UC102)R F102  /  B
103(UC103)R(XF103)
104 C104 R(XF104)
F104
(NF-104A)
105(XC105)R F105
106 C106 R(XF106)
F106
107(XC107)R F107
108(XC108)R(XF108)
109 C109 R(XF109)‡
110 C110 R(YF110B/D  /  C)‡ F110
111(FB111) C111 R F111  /  B
(EF-111)
112(XC112  /  A)R(YF112)‡
113(XC113)R(YF113A  /  B/D  /  C)‡
114(XC114)(YF114)‡
115(XC115)
116(YC116)(YF116)‡
117 C117  /  D F117
(YF117D)‡
118 C118 (YF118G)‡
119 C119
(AC119)
120(XC120)
121 C121  /  F
(EC121)
122(YC122)
123 C123  /  A
124 C124
125(YC125)
126(LC126)
127 C127 (1948)
C127 (1954)
128 C128
129(YC129)
130 C130  /  J
(AC130)
(DC130)
(EC130  /  H)
(HC130)
(KC130)
(LC130)
(MC130)
(RC130)
(WC130)
131 C131
(NC131H)
132 C132
133 C133
134(YC134)
135 C135
(EC135)
(KC135)
(NC135)
(OC135)
(RC135)
(WC135)
136(YC136)
137(YC137)
C137
(UC137)
138 C138
139(SC139)†(MH139)
140 C140
141 C141
142(XC142)
143(XC143)†
C143
144(HC144)
145 C145
146 C146
147 C147
170(RQ170)
180(RQ180)
322 P322 R
400 P400 R
767(KC767)
880(UC880)‡

Notes

  1. The "D" sequence is not applied to aircraft, but rather to ground control stations for UAVs. However, it is included here because it is part of the same system that designates aircraft.
  2. Fighter aircraft were originally designated as "P" for pursuit, but this was changed to "F" for fighter in 1947.
  3. Helicopters were originally designated as "R" for rotorcraft, but this was changed to "H" for helicopter in 1947.
  4. Reconnaissance aircraft were originally designated as "F" for photo, but this was changed to "R" for reconnaissance in 1947.
  5. There are no sequential "RS" or "SR" designations. These sequences are based on the pre-1962 bomber sequence.
  6. The original "T" sequence was created by merging the pre-1948 "AT" advanced trainer, "BT" basic trainer, and "PT" primary trainer sequences. All designations before T-28 are redesignations from those sequences. Many designations are missing but not considered skipped because they cannot be accurately retroactively applied to any one aircraft.
  7. Experimental aircraft were originally designated as "S" for supersonic/special test, but this was changed to "X" for experimental in 1948.
  8. Due to superstitions associating the number 13 with bad luck, 13 is often skipped in US designation sequences.

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