Aircraft designation system

The system of division (classification) of aircraft arose as a historical necessity since the advent of aeronautics. The creation of aircraft and their subsequent rapid development contributed to the improvement and development of various types of aircraft, depending on the types of tasks performed and their capabilities.

The system adopted in the USSR, and later in Russia, intended to designate aircraft by the initial letters of the name of the first chief (general) designer of the design bureau in which the aircraft was developed: AN - O.K. Antonov, Yak - A. S. Yakovlev. Next, a hyphen follows the number of the base model and the letter code of the modification.

The system assumed that fighters (fighter-bomber, attack aircraft) have odd numbers (MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, Su- 7, Su-9, Su-11, Su-15, Su-17, Su-27, Yak-25). All other classes of aircraft have even numbers (Su-24, Su-24, Yak-28, An-12, Yak-18, An-24, An-26, An-30, Il-76, Il-96, Tu- 104, Tu-134, Tu-16, Tu-144, etc.). The exception was: Su-30 fighter, Tu-128 fighter-interceptor, Tu-95 bomber .

The letter cipher is an abbreviation that explains the type of modification:

• A - the first serial modification (Tu-134A)
• R - reconnaissance (Yak-28R, Su-24MR, MiG-21R );
• P - interceptor (Yak-28P);
• PP - jammer (Yak-28PP);
• U (US, UM) - combat training (MiG-21U, MiG-21US, MiG-21UM);
• UB - combat training (MiG-23UB, MiG-29UB);
• UTI - combat training fighter (MiG-15UTI);
• KUB - combat training based ship (MiG-29KUB);
• PD - experimental version with lifting engines (MiG-21PD);
• LL - flying laboratory (Tu-128LL).

Each type of aircraft had its own modifications, determined by manufacturers, which could differ from each other. So, for example, the Tu-134S is a cargo aircraft based on the Tu-134A, and the MiG-21S is a new version of the aircraft with the Sapphire airborne radar (which means the letter C in the name), for the MiG-29C , the letter C meant the third serial aircraft modification.

The first officially known division system appeared in the United States in 1919, when the US Government decided to systematize US Army aircraft according to their distinguishing features. This system is called the " 1919 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system" ^[1] . This system lasted until 1924, when it was replaced by a new system that takes into account the problems of the old classification system, called the "1924 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system" ^{[2] [ 3]} .

The 1924 system was replaced by the 1956 classification system “ 1956 United States Army aircraft designation system ”, which lasted until 1962. In 1962, a new system called (" 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system ") was adopted. According to this system, a single alphanumeric notation system has been introduced.

The main element in the designation is the initial group of letters that defines the class (purpose) of the aircraft. For aircraft modifications (with a changed purpose), the letters of the class of the original version are preceded by letters denoting a new class. The letters X and Y that stand in front of the initial group indicate the aircraft undergoing factory and military tests. A hyphen is followed by the next number of the basic model of the aircraft, the letter of the modification code (indicated by the next letter of the Latin alphabet) and the name (almost every aircraft). In the reference literature, the designation company is usually indicated before the designation. For example: McDonnell-Douglas RF-4E "Phantom" 2 - reconnaissance aircraft based on the F-4 fighter modification E, the second fighter with the name "Phantom".

The classification system for aircraft in the UK is based on a name with the addition of an aircraft class and serial number of modification. Class letter:

• AEW - early warning radar detection aircraft (AWACS),
• AS - PLO plane,
• B - bomber plane,
• C - military transport aircraft,
• D - unmanned aerial vehicle,
• E - aircraft with special electronic equipment,
• F - fighter
• FGA (FG) - multirole fighter,
• FGR - multipurpose reconnaissance fighter,
• FRS - attack reconnaissance aircraft,
• K - tanker plane,
• MR - marine reconnaissance aircraft,
• S - strike aircraft,
• T - training aircraft.

The serial number of the modification (often spelled with the symbol Mk - "brand"). In the reference literature, the full or abbreviated name of the manufacturer is indicated before the designation. In recent years, the Royal Air Forces of the United Kingdom have mainly been armed with US-made aircraft, therefore they are designated in accordance with the classification adopted in the USA.

In France, there is no single classification system. Aircraft manufacturing in France is represented by one company - Dassault Breguet , which uses its proprietary designations for aircraft. As a rule, the name is followed by the next number of the base model and the letter that defines the purpose of the aircraft or modification: Dassault Falcon 2000 , Dassault Rafale , Dasso Mirage 4000 .

In Italy as well as in France there is no unified classification system. Each company uses its own designation for the new model, as a rule, after the full name of the company follows a certain combination of letters (abbreviated company name, traditional brand of products), type number and modification indicated by the letter: Ghibli - light tactical turbojet attack aircraft, C-27J Spartan - Italiano -American military transport aircraft, Piaggio P.180 Avanti - Italian administrative aircraft, Aermacchi MB-339 ( Aermacchi MB-339 ) - Italian training aircraft and light attack aircraft.

The classification system for aircraft in Sweden, when designating a military aircraft, first includes the name of the company, then the class of aircraft:

• A - attack aircraft,
• J is a fighter,
• S - scout,
• AJ - fighter-bomber,
• JA - a fighter capable of hitting ground targets,

Further included is the type number, letter modification and name.

Examples: Saab AJ 37B Wiggen , Saab J-39 Gripen , Saab J-29 Tunnan .

The Canadian Air Force mainly operates aircraft manufactured in the United States, so its naming system is close to that of the United States. Only the letter of the airplane class code is the designation of the nationality of Canada ( Canada ) - the letter C. For example, the McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet fighter in the Canadian Air Force is designated as McDonnell-Douglas CF-18A “Hornet” (McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet).

In the designation of aircraft created by cooperation, the name of the consortium formed by them, the name, letter code of the class or variant shall be indicated.

One of the options for the Jaguar Anglo-French multipurpose aircraft is a joint development of Great Britain ( British Aircraft Corporation ) and France ( Breguet ), the CEPECAT consortium:

• in French aviation it is designated as Jaguar A ^[4] , Jaguar E and Jaguar M.
• in British aviation - Jaguar S, Jaguar B, Jaguar GR.1, Jaguar T.2, Jaguar ACT, Jaguar GR.1A, Jaguar T.2A, Jaguar GR.1B, Jaguar GR.3, Jaguar GR.3A, Jaguar T .four

• UK aircraft marking system
• United States Aircraft Identification System (1919)
• U.S. Navy Aircraft Identification System (1922)
• United States Aircraft Identification System (1924)
• United States Aircraft Identification System (1956)
• United States Aircraft Identification System (1962)

• John M. Andrade, US Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 , Midland Counties Publications, England, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9
• Derek Bridges. US Military Aircraft Designation Systems (Neopr.) (December 3, 2006). Date of treatment August 7, 2016. Archived March 4, 2016.
• Fahey, James C. US Army Aircraft (Heavier-Than-Air) 1908-1946. - 1946.
• Swanborough, Gordon. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 / Gordon Swanborough, Peter M. Bowers. - Putnam.

• Designation of military aircraft
• How to recognize the designation of US military aircraft