United States of America 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.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Current System
3 See also
4 External Link

History

1920 to 1947 the United States Army Air Service / United States Army Air Corps / United States Army Air Force used a designation system based on mission category, with each model in a category numbered in turn.
1922 to 1962 the United States Navy (including United States Marine Corps) used a completely separate designation system, based on both mission and manufacturer.
1947 to 1962 the United States Air Force used a mission-based system different to, but derived from, the 1920-1947 system. For instance, the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (Pursuit) was re-designated as F-80 (Fighter), but the Convair B-36 bomber kept its previous designation.
1962 to now a joint system of mission-based designations was used, with most of these re-starting from 1. Various previously-designated models (such as the F-111) were not re-designated, however.

A comprehensive explanation can be found at Systems of Designation.

Current System

A: Attack
B: Bomber
C: Cargo
E: Electronic installation
F: Fighter (was Foto Reconnaissance)
H: Helicopter
K: Tanker
O: Observation
P: Patrol (was Pursuit = Fighter)
R: Reconnaisance
Q: Drone
S: Anti-submarine
T: Trainer
U: Utility
V: VTOL or STOL
X: Experimental

External Link

US Designations