After 1962, according to the order of the U.S. Department of Defense, the three U.S. services unified the numbering methods of military aircraft. U.S. military aircraft codenames generally consist of five parts: aircraft model codename, design codename, modification codename, mission change codename, and situation codename.
1. The aircraft type code is formulated according to the main purpose of the aircraft or the basic mission of the aircraft. In principle, it is represented by a Latin letter. Most of these letters are the first letters of the English words for this type of aircraft. The code names of each aircraft type are as follows:
A-attack aircraft, B-bomber, C-transport aircraft,
E- Special electronic equipment carrying aircraft, F-fighter,
H-helicopter, K-tanker, O-observation aircraft,
P-patrol aircraft, Q-unmanned aerial vehicle, S -Anti-submarine aircraft,
SR-strategic reconnaissance aircraft, T-trainer,
U-multipurpose aircraft, V-vertical landing aircraft,
X-research Machine, Z-ship.
2. The design code is represented by numbers, numbered in order of design time, and listed after the model code.
3. Modification code number: According to the order of improvement and modification, the number is arranged in Latin letters and listed after the design code name. To avoid confusion with the numbers "1" and "0", the letters "I" and "O" are not used.
4. Mission change code The basic mission of the aircraft has been changed, which are represented by the following letters, listed before the aircraft type code "
A-attack, C-transport, D- Command,
E-Special electronic equipment, H-Search and rescue,
K-Aerial refueling, L-For cold areas,
M-Carry missiles, Q-target aircraft, R-reconnaissance,
S-anti-submarine, T-trainer, U-multipurpose,
V-private plane, W-weather observation
5. The status code indicates the status of the aircraft in development, various tests, etc., which are represented by the following letters, listed before the aircraft model code or mission change code:
G- stands for permanent shutdown. Flying, only used for teaching materials and training;
J-represents temporary special test;
N-represents long-term special test;
X-represents experimental research;
Y-represents prototype;
Z-represents special plan.
In addition, these aircraft also have nicknames given to them by the Americans themselves. Just like naming someone.
For example, YF-16 Fightingfalcon represents the code name of the prototype of a fighter aircraft under development and testing, with the design order of 16 and nicknamed "Fighting Falcon";
SH-60B Seahawk means a second improved helicopter for anti-submarine missions. The design order is 60, nicknamed "Seahawk".
As for the numbers, they are all assigned by the military immediately. .