The current fighter/attack aircraft of the US military are generally named after birds or flying insects (in the past, Grumman used to add the word "cat" to the nicknames of its own aircraft), but there are exceptions. (For example, the F35 is called Lightning II. The number in the nickname may be because it is inherited from a fighter also called Lightning); bombers are generally named according to their characteristics (for example, the B1 that is good at speed is called the Lancer, and the stealth B2 is called the Phantom) ; Transport aircraft are usually given relatively "big" nicknames to highlight their carrying capacity (such as "Hercules", "Galaxy", etc.); early warning aircraft are nicknamed with a "lookout" nature, and most electronic warfare aircraft also have similar characteristics. They are named after concealment, interference capabilities or related characteristics; helicopters are named after famous Indian tribes (chiefs) in North America.
The "Definition and Naming of Military Aerospace" rules promulgated and implemented by the United States in 1997 stipulate that the aircraft model consists of up to 5 capital letters (usually 2-3) and a number. composition.
Components: ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Letters/numbers letters letters letters numbers letters
The meaning of each part is:
①Development stage status symbol (G-Permanently grounded, used for ground experiments; J-Temporary special experiments; N-Permanent special experiments; X-Experimental type; Y-Prototype; Z-Planned).
② Mission change symbols (A-attack; C-transport; D-command; E-special electronic equipment; F-combat; H-search and rescue; K-refueling; L-cold climate use; M-loaded missile; O-observation; P-patrol; Q-target drone; R-reconnaissance; S-anti-submarine; T-trainer; U-multipurpose).
③Basic mission (purpose) symbols (A-attack; C-transport; E-special electronic equipment; F-combat; H-search and rescue; L-laser carrier; O-observation; P -Patrol; Q-target drone; R-reconnaissance; S-anti-submarine; T-trainer; U-multipurpose; X-research).
④ Category symbols (G-glider; H-helicopter; Q-unmanned spacecraft; S-aerospace aircraft; V-vertical take-off and landing/short take-off and landing aircraft; Z-balloons, airships) .
⑤The design serial number is connected to the previous item with a short line.
⑥Actual series symbols.
The F-117 has the largest known fighter number in the United States, and it follows the naming series before 1962. In addition, when the numbers reach a certain level, they will no longer continue and will be compiled from scratch. For example, the bombers that have been equipped are assigned to B-58, the bombers developed are assigned to B-70 (not equipped), and the bombers developed later are numbered B-1 and B-2 respectively.
The serial number of a U.S. military aircraft can represent the type, sequence, model, etc. of the U.S. military aircraft. Beginning in 1962, the three U.S. services adopted a unified numbering method for military aircraft to distinguish various fighter aircraft.
The serial numbers of U.S. military aircraft are always represented by English letters and Arabic numerals. Among them, the model code uses English letters. Most of the code names are the first letter of the English word of the model, and some are represented by two letters, such as: AH-64 "Apache" attack helicopter.