In 1962 a new designation was instated for all three services, USAF, USN and
USMC. Here is the description of this system, as provided by Erwin Moedersheim:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PUBLICATION 4120.15-L MISSION, DESIGN, AND SERIES SYSTEM
(MDS)
The current military vehicle designation system for military aircraft was
introduced as a standard for all services in 1962. It is used for three
purposes:
1. Aircraft
2. Guided missiles, rockets, boosters, and satellites
3. Electronic equipment
The system consists of designations of the following type:
XXXX-...X (-..-XX)
where X indicates a letter, and . indicates a number. Not all letters are used
all the time.
1. AIRCRAFT DESIGNATIONS:
Starting at the first dash in the designation above, and moving to the LEFT, we
encounter:
VEHICLE TYPE:
It indicates the type of vehicle at hand, e.g. helicopter, V/STOL. For normal
aircraft, this designator is NOT used. (Example: the SH-2F uses the H to indicate
it is a helicopter. The F-16A is a regular aircraft, and does not have a vehicle
type designator).
G - Glider
H - Helicopter
S - Spaceplane
V - VTOL/STOL
Z - Lighter than air
BASIC MISSION:
This is the most important designator. It indicates the primary design task of
the aircraft. (Example: The B-1B uses a B because it is a bomber).
A - Attack
B - Bomber
C - Cargo/ transport
E - Special electronic installation
F - Fighter
O - Observation
P - Patrol
R - Reconnaissance:
ER - Electronic Reconnaissance
SR - Strategic Reconnaissance
TR - Tactical Reconnaissance
S - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
T - Trainer
U - Utility
X - Research
MODIFIED MISSION:
Indicates the vehicle has been modified for a specific mission. Only one modified
mission symbol is allowed. The modified mission symbol precedes the basic mission
symbol.
A - Attack
C - Cargo/ transport
D - Drone control
E - Special electronic installation
F - Fighter
H - Search and Rescue (SAR)
K - Tanker (from Kerosine tanker)
L - Cold weather
M - Multi-mission
O - Observation
P - Patrol
Q - Drone
R - Reconnaissance
S - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
T - Trainer
U - Utility
V - Staff/ VIP transport
W - Weather
STATUS PREFIX:
Indicates that the vehicle is not standard due to tests, modifications, or
experiments. This prefix precedes the modified and basic mission symbols.
G - Permanently grounded
J - Special test temporary
N - Special test permanent
X - Experimental
Y - Prototype
Z - Planning
Returning to the first dash, and moving RIGHT, we encounter:
DESIGN NUMBER:
Supposedly in sequential order, it indicates the model aircraft within the
basic mission category.
For example, C-20D, C-21A, C-22A, C-23B, EC-24A, VC-25A, C-26A, C-27A, etc.
Obviously, the order is not always sequential, e.g. F-23, F-111, F-117.
SERIES:
Indicates alphabetically major modifications to the original design, which
is indicated by the A. For example, the F-16B is a major modification of the
F-16A. I and O are skipped.
Then we officially encounter another dash, and two more designators. These
are not used very often, however, and are not always indicated on the
aircraft. Moving to the right from the dash, we find:
BLOCK NUMBER:
Indicates the block of identical aircraft to which the aircraft belongs.
(another dash)
MANUFACTURER IDENTIFICATION CODE:
Indicates the manufacturer.
Let's take an example:
NKC-135A
||| | |
Status prefix ----------------------------+|| | |
|| | |
Modified mission --------------------------+| | |
| | |
Basic mission ------------------------------+ | |
| |
Design number ---------------------------------+ |
|
Series ------------------------------------------+
Sometimes, the block number and manufacturer code are added to the designation:
F-4G-43-MC
| || | |
Basic mission ----------------------------+ || | |
|| | |
Design number ------------------------------+| | |
| | |
Series --------------------------------------+ | |
| |
Block number ----------------------------------+ |
|
Manufacturer--------------------------------------+
[Редактировалось varban (08-11-2000 в 14:17).]