Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The United States department of Defense was established in 1949, the old name Department of War was retired in 1947. In 1962 separate aircraft naming schemes were unified, but out of convenience many numbers carried over. For example, the P-38 Lightning, which also was used as the F-4 and F-5 for reconnaissance and FO in the Navy, became the F-38.
Multiple designation systems have been used to specify United States military aircraft. The first system was introduced in 1911 by the United States Navy, but was discontinued six years later; [1] the first system similar to that used today was designed in 1919 when the US Army's Aeronautical Division became the United States Army Air Service.
Only those designated after 1962 are listed here. Some aircraft did not have military sponsors, but since they were designated under the same sequence they are listed here. For aircraft in the sequence designated before 1962, see List of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962) § X: Special Research/Experimental (1948–1962).
Typical Vehicle Designation Stencil for a USAF aircraft. This one is on the port side of a T-33A under the canopy frame. Joint Regulation 4120.15E: Designating and Naming Military Aerospace Vehicles is the current system for designating all aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, spacecraft, and other aerial vehicles in military use by the United States Armed Forces.
Before the introduction of the tri-service designation system, the F-4 Phantom II was designated F4H by the U.S. Navy, and F-110 Spectre by the U.S. Air Force.. The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system introduced in 1962 by the United States Department of Defense for designating all U.S. military aircraft.
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) expands on the NATO reporting names in some cases. NATO refers to surface-to-air missile systems mounted on ships or submarines with the same names as the corresponding land-based systems, but the US DOD assigns a different series of numbers with a different prefix (i.e., SA-N- versus SA-) for these systems.
The registration often denotes the aircraft type and maker. Some examples: HB-Axx two-engined aircraft from 5.7 to 15 tons, Aircraft over 15 tons due to shortage of Jxx. HB-Bxx balloons; HB-Cxx single-engined Cessnas under 5.7 tons; HB-Dxx and HB-Kxx other single-engined aircraft under 5.7 tons; HB-Fxx Swiss-produced aircraft like PC-6 and PC-12
British military aircraft designations are used to refer to aircraft types and variants operated by the armed forces of the United Kingdom.. Since the end of the First World War, aircraft types in British military service have generally been known by a service name (e.g. 'Spitfire'), with individual variants recognised by mark numbers, often in combination with a letter to indicate the role.