This list of United States Tri-Service aircraft designations includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, which replaced the 1924 Air Force, 1922 Navy, and 1956 Army designation systems in 1962. For pre-1962 Air Force aircraft designations, see

List of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962) This list of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962) includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the 1919 and 1924 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation systems, which were used by th ...

. For pre-1962 Navy aircraft designations, see

List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) This list of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system, which was used by the United States Navy, the Un ...

. For aircraft that did not receive formal designations—including those procured before 1919 when no designation system was in force, and later aircraft that did not receive designations for other reasons—see

List of undesignated military aircraft of the United States The United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force and its predecessors, and United States Coast Guard operated aircraft when specific alphanumerical designation systems were not in use; these aircraft ...

A: Attack aircraft

A-1 Skyraider The Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly known as the AD Skyraider) is an American single-seat attack aircraft in service from 1946 to the early 1980s. The Skyraider had an unusually long career, remaining in front-line service well into the Jet Age ...

–

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civi ...

(redesignated from Navy AD) * A-2 Savage –

North American North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Ca ...

(redesignated from Navy AJ) *

A-3 Skywarrior The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior is a jet-powered strategic bomber that was developed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It was designed by Douglas on behalf of the United States Navy, which sought a carrier-capable strategic bomber. Duri ...

– Douglas (redesignated from Navy A3D) *

A-4 Skyhawk The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps in the early 1950s. The delta-winged, single turbojet engined Skyhawk was designed ...

– Douglas (redesignated from Navy A4D) *

A-5 Vigilante The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated t ...

– North American (redesignated from Navy A3J) *

A-6 Intruder The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and operated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. It was designed in response to a 1957 ...

–

Grumman The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a 20th century American producer of military and civilian aircraft. Founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman and his business partners, it merged in 1994 ...

(redesignated from Navy A2F) *

A-7 Corsair II The LTV A-7 Corsair II is an American carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV). The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design w ...

–

Ling-Temco-Vought Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2000. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, amo ...

* ''A-8'' – skipped * A-9 – Northrop *

A-10 Thunderbolt II The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 1976, it is named for the Republic ...

– Fairchild Republic * ''A-11'' – skipped *

A-12 Avenger II The McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II was a proposed American attack aircraft from McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics. It was to be an all-weather, carrier-based stealth bomber replacement for the Grumman A-6 Intruder in t ...

–

McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturing corporation and defense contractor, formed by the merger of McDonnell Aircraft and the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967. Between then and its own merger with Boeing in 1997, it pro ...

General Dynamics General Dynamics Corporation (GD) is an American publicly traded, aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Reston, Virginia. As of 2020, it was the fifth-largest defense contractor in the world by arms sales, and 5th largest in the Uni ...

(not built)

Non-sequential designations

F/A-18 Hornet The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather, twinjet, twin-engine, supersonic aircraft, supersonic, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, ...

–

Officially, the F/A-18 is designated in both the A-for-attack and F-for-fighter series. **

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more ad ...

–

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...

EA-18G Growler The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. ...

– Boeing * A-26 Invader –

(originally designated A-26, then B-26 after the B-26 Marauder was retired, reverted to original A-26 in Vietnam era) *

A-29 Super Tucano The Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (English: ''Super Toucan''), also named ALX or A-29, is a Brazilian turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer as a development of the Embraer EMB 312 Tucano. The A-29 Super Tucano carries a ...

–

Embraer Embraer S.A. () is a Brazilian multinational aerospace manufacturer that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft, and provides aeronautical services. It was founded in 1969 in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, where i ...

A-37 Dragonfly The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is an American light attack aircraft developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer in the 1960s and 1970s by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. The A-37 was introduced during the Vietnam War and remained in pe ...

– Cessna (redesignated from AT-37)

B: Bomber

B-1 Lancer The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with ...

– Rockwell *

B-2 Spirit The Northrop (later Northrop Grumman) B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is an American heavy strategic bomber, featuring low-observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses. A subsonic flying ...

–

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company. With 90,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and military techn ...

Non-sequential designation

B-21 Raider The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is an American strategic bomber under development for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Northrop Grumman. As part of the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program, it is to be a long-range, stealth interc ...

–

(in development) * FB-22 –

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...

(not built) *

FB-111 Aardvark The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic, medium-range, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft. Production variants of the F-111 had roles that included attack aircraft, ground attack (e.g. Air interdiction, i ...

–

(redesignated F-111G after role change)

C: Cargo/Transport

* C-1 Trader –

(redesignated from Navy TF) *

C-2 Greyhound The Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a twin-engine, high-wing cargo aircraft designed to carry supplies, mail, and passengers to and from aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. Its primary mission is carrier onboard delivery (COD). The aircraft p ...

– Grumman * C-3 –

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

(redesignated from Navy RM) * C-4 Academe –

Gulfstream The Gulf Stream is a warm Atlantic Ocean current. Gulf Stream or Gulfstream may also refer to: Places *Gulf Stream, Florida, a town in the United States Art, entertainment, and media *''Gulf Stream Magazine'', a literary magazine at Florida Intern ...

C-5 Galaxy The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed, and now maintained and upgraded by its successor, Lockheed Martin. It provides the United States Air Force (USAF) with a heavy intercontinental-rang ...

– Lockheed * C-6 –

Beechcraft Beechcraft is an American brand of civil aviation and military aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of Beech Aircraft Corporation, an American manufacturer of general avi ...

C-7 Caribou The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designated by the United States military as the CV-2 and later C-7 Caribou) is a Canadian specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. The Caribou was first flown in 1958 ...

–

de Havilland Canada De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited is an aircraft manufacturer with facilities formerly based in the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original home of de Havilland Canada was the home of the Canadian Air and Space Museum lo ...

* C-7 – de Havilland Canada (conflicting designation) * C-8 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada * C-9 Nightingale/Skytrain II –

* C-10 Jetstream –

Handley Page Handley Page Limited was a British aerospace manufacturer. Founded by Frederick Handley Page (later Sir Frederick) in 1909, it was the United Kingdom's first publicly traded aircraft manufacturing company. It went into voluntary liquidation a ...

(not built) * C-10 Extender – McDonnell Douglas (conflicting designation, assigned after original C-10 was canceled) * C-11 – Gulfstream *

C-12 Huron The Beechcraft C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United ...

– Beechcraft ** RC-12 Guardrail – Beechcraft * ''C-13'' – skipped * C-14 – Boeing * C-15 – McDonnell Douglas * ''C-16'' – skipped *

C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two ...

– Boeing *

C-18 C18 may refer to: Science and technology * Caldwell 18 (NGC 185), a dwarf spheroidal galaxy of the Local Group in the constellation Cassiopeia * Carbon-18 (C-18 or 18C), an isotope of carbon * , the molecular formula of cyclo(18)carbon * C18, an oc ...

– Boeing * C-19 – Boeing * C-20 – Gulfstream ** C-20F/G/H/J – Gulfstream * C-21 – Learjet * C-22 – Boeing *

C-23 Sherpa The Short C-23 Sherpa is a small military transport aircraft built by Short Brothers. It was designed to operate from unpaved runways and make short takeoff and landings (STOL). It features a large squared fuselage with a full-width rear car ...

–

Short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...

* C-24 –

* C-25 – Boeing * C-26 –

Fairchild Fairchild may refer to: Organizations * Fairchild Aerial Surveys, operated in cooperation with a subsidiary of Fairey Aviation Company * Fairchild Camera and Instrument * List of Sherman Fairchild companies, "Fairchild" companies * Fairchild Fa ...

C-27 Spartan The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in ...

–

Aeritalia Aeritalia was an aerospace engineering corporation based in Italy. It was formed out of the merger of two aviation companies, Fiat Aviazione and Aerfer, in 1969. Aeritalia continued several programs of its preceding companies, perhaps most p ...

C-27J Spartan The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in ...

– Alenia * C-28 Titan – Cessna * C-29 –

British Aerospace British Aerospace plc (BAe) was a British aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was at Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire. Formed in 1977, in 1999 it purchased Marconi ...

* ''C-30'' – skipped * C-31 Troopship –

Fokker Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names. It was founded in 1912 in Berlin, Germany, and became famous for its fighter aircraft in World War I. In 1919 ...

* C-32 – Boeing * C-33 – Boeing * ''C-34'' – skipped * C-35 – Cessna * ''C-36'' – reserved for a four-engined aircraft, speculated to have been the

Boeing YAL-1 The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed (formerly Airborne Laser) weapons system was a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified military Boeing 747-400F. It was primarily designed as a missile defense syste ...

* C-37 – Gulfstream * C-38 – Gulfstream * ''C-39'' – skipped *

C-40 Clipper The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the Boeing 737 Next Generation used to transport cargo and passengers. It is used by the United States Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The Navy C-40A variant is named "Clipper", whereas the ...

– Boeing * C-41 – CASAParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" * ''C-42'' – skipped * ''C-43'' – skipped * ''C-44'' – skipped * C-45 – EADS/

(not built) * C-46 Pegasus – Boeing

Revived 1924-1962 sequence (2005-present)

* C-143 – Bombardier * C-144 Ocean Sentry – EADS * C-145 Skytruck –

PZL PZL (''Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze'' - State Aviation Works) was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, and a brand of their aircraft. Based in Warsaw between 1928 and 1939, PZL introduced a variety of well-regarded air ...

* C-146 Wolfhound – Dornier * C-147 –

Non-sequential designations

* C-767 –

* C-880 –

Convair Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953, i ...

D: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control segment

The "D" sequence is assigned to ground control stations for UAVs. *

D-1 D1, D01, D.I, D.1 or D-1 can refer to: Science and technology Biochemistry and medicine * ATC code D01 ''Antifungals for dermatological use'', a subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System * Dopamine receptor D1, Dopamine ...

–

General Atomics General Atomics is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, specializing in research and technology development. This includes physics research in support of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy. The ...

, ground equipment for the

MQ-1 Predator The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (often referred to as the predator drone) is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency ...

* D-2 –

, ground equipment for the

RQ-4 Global Hawk The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft of the 1990s–2020s. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical (now part of Northrop Grumman), and known as Tier II+ during development. The ...

* D-3 – Northrop Grumman, ground equipment for the

MQ-4C Triton The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton is an American high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under development for the United States Navy as a surveillance aircraft. Together with its associated ground control station, it is an ...

* D-4 – Northrop Grumman, ground equipment for the

MQ-8 Fire Scout The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is an unmanned autonomous helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Armed Forces. The Fire Scout is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support a ...

* D-5 – US Navy, ground equipment for the MQ-25 Stingray

E: Special electronic installation

E-1 Tracer The Grumman E-1 Tracer was the first purpose-built airborne early warning aircraft used by the United States Navy. It was a derivative of the Grumman C-1 Trader and entered service in 1958. It was replaced by the more modern Grumman E-2 Hawke ...

–

(redesignated from Navy WF) * E-2 Hawkeye – Grumman (redesignated from Navy W2F) * E-3 Sentry –

* E-4 – Boeing * E-5 Eagle – Windecker *

E-6 Mercury The Boeing E-6 Mercury (formerly Hermes) is an airborne command post and communications relay based on the Boeing 707. The original E-6A manufactured by Boeing's defense division entered service with the United States Navy in July 1989, repla ...

– Boeing * ''E-7'' – designation proposed for EC-18B but not approved *

E-8 Joint STARS The Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a United States Air Force airborne ground surveillance, battle management and command and control aircraft. It tracks ground vehicles and some aircraft, col ...

–

* E-9 Widget –

* E-10 MC2A – Boeing/Northrop Grumman * E-11 – Bombardier/Northrop Grumman

F: Fighter

F-1 Fury North American FJ Fury (also ''North American F-1 Fury'') may refer to several members of a group of fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft, built by North American Aviation for the US Navy, and related in varying degrees to the F-86 Sabre this firm p ...

–

(redesignated from Navy FJ) ** F-1E/F Fury – North American (redesignated from Navy FJ-4) * F-2 Banshee –

McDonnell The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 6, 1939, by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom I ...

(redesignated from Navy F2H) *

F-3 Demon The McDonnell F3H Demon is a subsonic swept-wing United States Navy carrier-based jet fighter aircraft. The successor to the F2H Banshee, the Demon was originally designed to use the Westinghouse J40 engine, but had to be redesigned to accep ...

– McDonnell (redesignated from Navy F3H) * F-4 Phantom II –

(redesignated from Navy F4H and Air Force F-110) * F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II – Northrop ** F-5G – Northrop (redesignated to F-20) * F-6 Skyray –

(redesignated from Navy F4D) * F-7 Sea Dart –

(redesignated from Navy F2Y) *

F-8 Crusader The Vought F-8 Crusader (originally F8U) is a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps (replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass), and for the Fren ...

–

Vought Vought was the name of several related American aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought-Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace (part of Ling-Temco-Vought), Vought Aircraft Companies, and Vought Ai ...

(redesignated from Navy F8U) * F-9 Panther –

(redesignated from Navy F9F) ** F-9F/H/J Cougar – Grumman (redesignated from Navy F9F-6/7/8) * F-10 Skyknight – Douglas (redesignated from Navy F3D) *

F-11 Tiger The Grumman F11F/F-11 Tiger is a supersonic, single-seat carrier-based United States Navy fighter aircraft in operation during the 1950s and 1960s. Originally designated the F11F Tiger in April 1955 under the pre-1962 Navy designation system, i ...

– Grumman (redesignated from Navy F11F) * F-12 – Lockheed ** F-12C – Lockheed (unofficial cover designation for the SR-71) * ''F-13'' – skipped *

F-14 Tomcat The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program after the ...

– Grumman *

F-15 Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's ...

– McDonnell Douglas **

F-15E Strike Eagle The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is an American all-weather multirole strike fighter derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high-speed interdiction without rely ...

– McDonnell Douglas/Boeing * F-16 Fighting Falcon –

NF-16D VISTA The General Dynamics X-62 VISTA ("Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft") is an experimental aircraft, derived from the F-16D Fighting Falcon, which was modified as a joint venture between General Dynamics and Calspan for use by ...

– General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin (redesignated X-62 in 2021) **

F-16XL The General Dynamics F-16XL is a derivative of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, with a cranked-arrow delta wing. It was originally conceived as a technology demonstrator, later entered in the United States Air Force's (USAF) Enhanced Tactical Fighter ...

– General Dynamics * F-17 Cobra – Northrop *

– McDonnell Douglas **

– Boeing **

– Boeing * ''

F-19 F-19 is the designation for a hypothetical US fighter aircraft that has never been officially acknowledged, and has engendered much speculation that it might refer to a type of aircraft whose existence is still classified. History Since the uni ...

'' – skipped *

F-20 Tigershark The Northrop F-20 Tigershark (initially F-5G) is a light fighter, designed and built by Northrop. Its development began in 1975 as a further evolution of Northrop's F-5E Tiger II, featuring a new engine that greatly improved overall performa ...

– Northrop (redesignated from F-5G) *

F-21 Kfir Fluoride (). According to this source, is a possible pronunciation in British English. is an inorganic, monatomic anion of fluorine, with the chemical formula (also written ), whose salts are typically white or colorless. Fluoride salts typi ...

–

Israel Aerospace Industries Israel Aerospace Industries (Hebrew: התעשייה האווירית לישראל ''ha-ta'asiya ha-avirit le-yisra'el'') or IAI (תע"א) is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both mi ...

F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). As the result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, th ...

– Lockheed Martin **

YF-22 The Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22 is an American single-seat, twin-engine fighter aircraft technology demonstrator designed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The design was a finalist in the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter c ...

– Lockheed Martin ** FB-22 – Lockheed Martin * F-23 Black Widow II – Northrop/McDonnell Douglas

Non-sequential designations

F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide elect ...

–

* F-117 Nighthawk – Lockheed

Other designations

Designations YF-110, YF-112 through YF-116, and YF-118 were captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor training. They were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with

black project A black project is a highly classified, top-secret military or defense project that is not publicly acknowledged by government, military personnel, or contractors. Examples of United States military aircraft developed as black projects include the ...

aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 "F" series.Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006 * ''YF-24'' – mentioned in a USAF test pilot's official biography, possibly classified * YF-110 – Mikoyan-Gurevich ** YF-110C –

Chengdu Chengdu (, ; Simplified Chinese characters, simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively Romanization of Chi ...

* YF-112 –

Sukhoi The JSC Sukhoi Company (russian: ПАО «Компания „Сухой“», ) is a Russian aircraft manufacturer (formerly Soviet), headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, that designs both civilian and mili ...

* YF-113 – Mikoyan-Gurevich ** YF-113B – Mikoyan-Gurevich ** ''YF-113G'' – possible USAF "black project" * YF-114 – Mikoyan-Gurevich * YF-117 ** YF-117A – Lockheed (later made official) ** YF-117D Tacit Blue – Northrop * YF-118 –

G: Glider

* G-1 – Schweizer * G-2 – Schweizer * G-3 – Schweizer * G-4 – Schweizer * G-5 – Schweizer * G-6 – Schweizer * G-7 – Schweizer * G-8 – Schweizer * G-9 – Schleicher * G-10 –

Let Let or LET may refer to: Sports * Let serve, when the served object in certain racket sports hits the net and lands in the correct service court, such as; ** Let (badminton) ** Let (pickleball) ** Let (tennis) * Ladies European Tour, the ladi ...

Parsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" * G-11 – Stemme * G-12 –

Caproni Vizzola Caproni, also known as ''Società de Agostini e Caproni'' and ''Società Caproni e Comitti'', was an Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its main base of operations was at Taliedo, near Linate Airport, on the outskirts of Milan. Founded by Giovann ...

* ''G-13'' – skipped *

G-14 The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs that existed between 1998 and 2008. It consisted of 14 European top class teams initially, later expanded to 18. It was disbanded in 2008 and was replaced by the European Club Association ...

–

Aeromot Aeromot Aeronaves e Motores S.A is a Brazilian industrial group that markets aeronautical products. It was responsible for the aeronautical system of the World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The company is based at Salgado Filho Airpor ...

* G-15 –

Schempp-Hirth Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH is a glider manufacturer based in Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany. History Martin Schempp founded his own company in Göppingen in 1935, with the assistance of Wolf Hirth. The company was initially called "Sportfl ...

** G-15B – Schempp-Hirth * G-16 –

DG Flugzeugbau DG Flugzeugbau GmbH is a manufacturer of sailplanes and other composite parts based in Bruchsal near Karlsruhe, Germany. History The business was founded in 1973 by Gerhard Glaser and Wilhelm Dirks as Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH. In 2018 th ...

H: Helicopter

Unlike most other categories of aircraft, the introduction of the tri-service designation system in 1962 did not result in a wholesale redesignation of helicopters. While six types received new designations in the unified, "re-started" sequence, the original "H-" series of designations that started in 1948 was also continued, and no further types of rotorcraft have been designated in the "post-1962" system. * H-1 –

Bell A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inter ...

UH-1 Iroquois The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility helicopter, utility military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. It is the first member of the prolific Bell Huey family, Huey family, as we ...

– Bell (redesignated from Army HU-1 and Air Force H-40, UH-1F redesignated from H-48) ***

UH-1N Twin Huey The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter. It is a member of the extensive Huey family, the initial version was the CUH-1N Twin Huey (later CH-135 Twi ...

– Bell ***

UH-1Y Venom The Bell UH-1Y VenomDoD 4120-15L, ''Model Desi ...

– Bell **

AH-1 Cobra The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a single-engined attack helicopter developed and manufactured by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake. The AH ...

– Bell *** AH-1J/T/W SeaCobra/SuperCobra – Bell ***

AH-1Z Viper The Bell AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter, based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter. Being one of the latest members of the prolific Bell Huey family, it is also ca ...

– Bell * H-2 Seasprite –

Kaman Kaman may refer to: * Kaman (surname) * Kamein (Kaman), an ethnic group in Burma * Kaman Aircraft, an American aerospace company and helicopter manufacturer * Kaman Music Corporation, a company of several musical instrument manufacturers * Kaman ...

(redesignated from Navy HU2K) ** H-2G Super Seasprite – Kaman * H-3 Sea King – Sikorsky (redesignated from Navy HSS-2) ** H-3C/E/F Sea King – Sikorsky * H-4 – Bell (redesignated from Army HO-4) * H-5 –

Fairchild Hiller Fairchild was an American aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company based at various times in Farmingdale, New York; Hagerstown, Maryland; and San Antonio, Texas. History Early aircraft The company was founded by Sherman Fairchild in ...

(redesignated from Army HO-5) * H-6 Cayuse –

Hughes Hughes may refer to: People * Hughes (surname) * Hughes (given name) Places Antarctica * Hughes Range (Antarctica), Ross Dependency * Mount Hughes, Oates Land * Hughes Basin, Oates Land * Hughes Bay, Graham Land * Hughes Bluff, Victoria La ...

MD Helicopters MD Helicopters, LLC. (formerly McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems) is an American aerospace manufacturer. It produces light utility helicopters for commercial and military use. The company was a subsidiary of Hughes Aircraft until 1984, when Mc ...

(redesignated from Army HO-6) **

AH-6 Little Bird The Boeing AH-6 is a series of light helicopter gunships based on the MH-6 Little Bird and MD 500 family. Developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, these include the Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) demonstrator, the A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bi ...

–

MH-6 Little Bird The Boeing MH-6M Little Bird (nicknamed the Killer Egg) and its attack variant, the AH-6, are light helicopters used for special operations in the United States Army. Originally based on a modified OH-6A, it was later based on the MD 500E, w ...

– Hughes/ McDonnell Douglas/MD Helicopters

Continuation of 1948 sequence

* H-46 Sea Knight –

Boeing Vertol Boeing Rotorcraft Systems (formerly Boeing Helicopters and before that Boeing Vertol) is the former name of an American aircraft manufacturer, now known as Vertical Lift division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The headquarters and main r ...

* H-47 Chinook – Boeing Vertol * H-48 –

(redesignated UH-1F) * H-49 – Boeing Vertol (redesignated H-46B) * H-50 DASH –

Gyrodyne A gyrodyne is a type of VTOL aircraft with a helicopter rotor-like system that is driven by its engine for takeoff and landing only, and includes one or more conventional propeller or jet engines to provide forward thrust during cruising flig ...

Lockheed_XH-51A_landing_aboard_USS_Ozbourn_(DD-846),_circa_in_1963_(4561400925)

* H-51 – Lockheed * H-52 Sea Guard – Sikorsky * H-53 Sea Stallion – Sikorsky **

MH-53 Pave Low The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low series is a retired long-range special operations and combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter for the United States Air Force. The series was upgraded from the HH-53B/C, variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stal ...

– Sikorsky **

CH-53E Super Stallion The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, ...

– Sikorsky **

CH-53K King Stallion The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion (Sikorsky S-95) is a heavy-lift cargo helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Aircraft. The King Stallion is an evolution of the long running CH-53 series of helicopters which have been in continuous serv ...

– SikorskyParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" * H-54 Tarhe – Sikorsky * H-55 Osage –

* H-56 Cheyenne – Lockheed * H-57 Sea Ranger – Bell * H-58 Kiowa – Bell * H-59 – Sikorsky * H-60 Black Hawk – Sikorsky **

Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modificat ...

– Sikorsky **

Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems ...

– Sikorsky ** Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk – Sikorsky * H-61 – Boeing Vertol * H-62 – Boeing Vertol * H-63 Kingcobra – Bell * H-64 Apache – Hughes * H-65 Dolphin – Aérospatiale * H-66 Comanche –

/Sikorsky * H-67 Creek – Bell * H-68 Stingray – Agusta * ''H-69'' – skipped * H-70 Arapaho – Bell * H-71 Kestrel –

* H-72 Lakota – Eurocopter * H-73 Koala –

AgustaWestland AgustaWestland was an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica (now known as Leonardo). It was formed in July 2000 as an Anglo-Italian multinational company, when Finmeccani ...

Non-sequential designations

* H-90 Enforcer –

* H-92 – Sikorsky **

VH-92 The Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin VH-92 is an American helicopter under development to replace the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. presidential transport fleet; it is a militarized variant of the Sikorsky S-92. Design and development S ...

– Sikorsky * H-139 Grey Wolf –

K: Tanker

No specialised types have been acquired to receive a stand-alone 'K for Tanker' designation; for aircraft modified for use as tankers, see the parent aircraft in the proper sequence.

L: Laser-equipped

* L-1 –

DOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles
, Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (AT&L) (Defense Systems), May 12, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2010.

O: Observation

O-1 Bird Dog The Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog is a liaison and observation aircraft. It was the first all-metal fixed-wing aircraft ordered for and by the United States Army following the Army Air Forces' separation from it in 1947. The Bird Dog had a lengthy ...

– Cessna (redesignated from Air Force L-19) *

O-2 Skymaster The Cessna O-2 Skymaster (nicknamed "Oscar Deuce") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, used for forward air control (FAC) and psychological operations (PSYOPS) by the US military between 1967 and 2010. Design and develop ...

– Cessna * O-3 Quiet Star – Lockheed * ''O-4'' – reserved for a quiet observation aircraft, speculated to have been the Wren 460QB * O-5 ARL –

* O-6 – de Havilland Canada

P: Maritime patrol

* ''P-1'' – skipped *

P-2 Neptune The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and P ...

– Lockheed (redesignated from Navy P2V) *

P-3 Orion The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engined, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner.P-7 – Lockheed (not built) *

P-8 Poseidon The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. It was developed for the United States Navy (USN). Th ...

–

* P-9 –

(not built)

Q: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

* Q-1 Predator –

** Q-1C Gray Eagle – General Atomics * Q-2 Pioneer – AAI/

* Q-3 Dark Star –

* Q-4 Global Hawk –

** Q-4C Triton – Northrop Grumman * Q-5 Hunter – Israel Aerospace Industries * Q-6 Outrider – Alliant * Q-7 Shadow – AAI * Q-8 Fire Scout – Northrop Grumman ** Q-8C Fire Scout – Northrop Grumman *

Q-9 Reaper Q9 may refer to: * The fifth series of Q (TV series) * The IATA airline designator of Afrinat International Airlines * Q9 input method - an input method for Traditional Chinese text * Q9 (New York City bus) The Metropolitan Transportation Au ...

– General Atomics * Q-10 SnowGoose – MMIST * Q-11 Raven – AeroVironment * Q-12 – AeroVironment * ''Q-13'' – skipped * Q-14 Dragon Eye – AeroVironment * Q-15 Neptune – DRS * Q-16 T-Hawk –

Honeywell Honeywell International Inc. is an American publicly traded, multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It primarily operates in four areas of business: aerospace, building technologies, performance ma ...

* Q-17 SpyHawk – MTC Technologies * Q-18 Hummingbird – Boeing * Q-19 Aerosonde – AAIParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" * Q-20 Puma – AeroVironment * Q-20 Avenger – General Atomics (conflicting designation) * Q-21 Integrator –

Boeing Insitu Insitu Inc. is an American company that designs, develops and manufactures unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company is a Subsidiary, wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and has several offices in the United States, th ...

* Q-22 – AeroVironment * Q-23 – NASC * Q-24 –

* Q-25 Stingray –

* ''Q-26'' – skipped * Q-27 – Boeing

Non-sequential designations

* Q-58 – Kratos * Q-72 Great Horned Owl –

* Q-170 Sentinel –

* Q-180 – Northrop Grumman

R: Reconnaissance

* R-1 – Lockheed (redesignated to U-2S in 1991)

S: Anti-submarine warfare

* ''S-1'' – skipped *

S-2 Tracker The Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed and initially built by Grumman, the Tracker was of conventiona ...

–

(redesignated from Navy S2F) * S-3 Viking/Shadow – Lockheed

S: Spaceplane

S is also used as a vehicle type designator spaceplanes. * S-1 –

DARPA The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Originally known as the Adv ...

(not built)

SR: Strategic Reconnaissance

The "SR" sequence is a continuation of the original USAF bomber sequence, which ended at B-70. * SR-71 Blackbird – Lockheed * SR-72 –

(in development)

T: Trainer

Despite the adoption of the unified Mission Designation System in 1962, only two aircraft were designated in the new sequence, both former Navy types. New trainer aircraft after 1962 continued to use the original sequence. In 1990, an alternate sequence was started, with the first designation being T-1, though the old sequence continues to be used. The next designation available in the 'T' series is T-54 or T-8, depending on which series is continued.

Continued original sequence (1962–present)

Only aircraft designated after the adoption of the Tri-Service system are listed below. For aircraft in the sequence designated before 1962, see #T: Trainer (1948–1962). * T-41 Gulfstream –

(redesignated TC-4B, not built) *

T-41 Mescalero The Cessna T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172, operated by the United States Air Force and Army, as well as the armed forces of various other countries as a pilot-training aircraft. Design and development In 1964, ...

– Cessna (conflicting designation, assigned after the original T-41 was redesignated) * T-42 Seminole –

(redesignated U-8G) * T-42 Cochise – Beechcraft (conflicting designation, assigned after the original T-42 was redesignated) * T-43 –

T-44 Pegasus The Beechcraft King Air is a line of American utility aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The King Air line comprises a number of twin-turboprop models that have been divided into two families. The Model 90 and 100 series developed in the 1960s ...

– Beechcraft *

T-45 Goshawk The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) T-45 Goshawk is a highly modified version of the British BAE Systems Hawk land-based training jet aircraft. Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), the T-45 i ...

–

BAE Systems BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...

* T-46 –

* T-47 – Cessna * T-48 – Cessna (not built) *

T-48 MPATS The T-48TS was a U.S. Navy aircraft project, intended to replace the T-39 Sabreliner as part of the Undergraduate Military Flight Officer (UMFO) Multi-Place Aircraft Training System (MPATS). Planned by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), th ...

– unknown contractorParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" (conflicting designation, assigned after the original T-48 was canceled, not built) * T-49 – Boeing *

T-50 Golden Eagle The KAI T-50 Golden Eagle (골든이글) is a family of South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. The T-50 is South Korea's first indigenous ...

–

Korea Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Industries (Korean: 한국항공우주산업, Hanja: 韓國航空宇宙産業) (KAI) is a South Korean aerospace and defense company. It was originally established as a joint venture of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries' ...

(designation reserved, none procured) * T-51 – Cessna * T-52 –

Diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the Chemical stability, chemically stable form of car ...

"Photo essay: Flight of a T-52A"
U.S. Air Force. * T-53 –

Cirrus Cirrus may refer to: Science *Cirrus (biology), any of various thin, thread-like structures on the body of an animal *Cirrus (botany), a tendril * Infrared cirrus, in astronomy, filamentary structures seen in infrared light *Cirrus cloud, a typ ...

1962 redesignations

* T-1 SeaStar – Lockheed (redesignated from Navy T2V) *

T-2 Buckeye The North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers to jets. It entered service in 1959, begi ...

–

(redesignated from Navy T2J)

1990 Sequence

T-1 Jayhawk The Raytheon T-1 Jayhawk is a twin-engined jet aircraft used by the United States Air Force for advanced pilot training. T-1A students go on to fly airlift and tanker aircraft. The T-400 is a similar version for the Japan Air Self-Defense For ...

–

Raytheon Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitaliza ...

Hawker Beechcraft Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) was an American aerospace manufacturing company that built the Beechcraft and Hawker business jet lines of aircraft between 2006 and 2013. The company headquarters was in Wichita, Kansas, United States, with ...

* ''T-2'' – skipped (T-2 Buckeye was still in service) * T-3 Firefly –

Slingsby Slingsby may refer to: * Slingsby (surname) * Slingsby, North Yorkshire * Slingsby Aviation, formerly Slingsby Sailplanes, a manufacturer of gliders and other aircraft * Slingsby Channel Slingsby Channel is a strait on the north side of Bramham Isl ...

* ''T-4'' – skipped * ''T-5'' – skipped *

T-6 Texan II The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company ( Textron Aviation since 2014). A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 has replaced the United States Air Force's Cessna ...

– Hawker Beechcraft *

T-7 Red Hawk T7 or T-7 may refer to: Biology * Thoracic vertebra 7 * Thoracic spinal nerve 7 * T7 phage, a virus used in the study of biological systems ** T7 DNA Helicase, a hexameric motor protein ** T7 RNA polymerase, an RNA polymerase that catalyzes the f ...

–

U: Utility

* U-1 Otter –

* U-2 – Lockheed (cover designation to hide the aircraft's true role) * U-3 – Cessna (redesignated from Air Force L-27) * U-4 –

Aero Commander Aero Commander was an aircraft manufacturer formed in 1944. In subsequent years, it became a subsidiary of Rockwell International and Gulfstream Aerospace. The company ceased aircraft production in 1986. History Aero was formed in Culver City, ...

(redesignated from Air Force L-26) * U-5 Twin Courier – Helio * U-6 Beaver – de Havilland Canada (redesignated from Army L-20) * U-7 Super Cub –

Piper Piper may refer to: People * Piper (given name) * Piper (surname) Arts and entertainment Fictional characters Comics * Piper (Morlock), in the Marvel Universe * Piper (Mutate), in the Marvel Universe Television * Piper Chapman, lea ...

(redesignated from Army L-21) *

U-8 Seminole The Beechcraft L-23 Seminole (later designated U-8) was the United States Armed Forces designation for the Beechcraft Twin Bonanza and Queen Air aircraft in its inventory. Design and development In 1951 the United States Army evaluated a Twin ...

–

(redesignated from Army L-23) * U-9 – Aero Commander (redesignated from Army L-26) * U-10 Super Courier – Helio (redesignated from Army L-28) * U-11 Aztec – Piper (redesignated from Navy UO) * ''U-12'' – skipped * ''U-13'' – skipped * ''U-14'' – skipped * ''U-15'' – skipped * U-16 Albatross –

(redesignated from Air Force A-16 and Navy UF) * U-17 Skywagon – Cessna * U-18 Navion –

/ Ryan (redesignated from Army L-17) * U-19 Sentinel – Stinson (redesignated from Army L-5) * U-20 – Cessna (redesignated from Air Force C-126) *

U-21 Ute The Beechcraft King Air is a line of American utility aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The King Air line comprises a number of twin-turboprop models that have been divided into two families. The Model 90 and 100 series developed in the 1960s ...

– Beechcraft * U-22 Pave Eagle – Beechcraft * U-23 Peacemaker –

/ Pilatus * U-24 Stallion – Helio * U-25 Huron – Beechcraft (redesignated C-21) * U-25 Guardian –

Dassault Dassault Group (; also GIM Dassault or Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS) is a French group of companies established in 1929 with the creation of Société des Avions Marcel Bloch (now Dassault Aviation) by Marcel Dassault, and led by son Ser ...

(conflicting designation, assigned after the original C-25 was redesignated) * U-26 Super Skywagon – Cessna * U-27 Caravan – Cessna * U-28 – PilatusParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L"

Non-sequential designations

* U-38 Twin Condor – Schweizer

V: Vertical take-off/short take-off and landing (VTOL/STOL)

V-1 V1, V01 or V-1 can refer to version one (for anything) (e.g., see version control) V1, V01 or V-1 may also refer to: In aircraft * V-1 flying bomb, a World War II German weapon * V1 speed, the maximum speed at which an aircraft pilot may abort ...

–

(redesignated from Army AO-1) *

V-2 The V-2 (german: Vergeltungswaffe 2, lit=Retaliation Weapon 2), with the technical name ''Aggregat 4'' (A-4), was the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile. The missile, powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine, was develope ...

–

(redesignated from Army AC-1) * V-3 –

(redesignated from Air Force H-33) * V-4 Hummingbird – Lockheed (redesignated from Army VZ-10) * V-5 Vertifan – Ryan (redesignated from Army VZ-11) * V-6 Kestrel – Hawker Siddeley (redesignated from Army VZ-12) * V-7 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (redesignated from Army AC-2) * V-8 – Ryan * V-8 Harrier – Hawker Siddeley (conflicting designation, assigned after original V-8 was retired) ** V-8B Harrier II –

* V-9 –

* V-10 Bronco – Rockwell/

* V-11 Marvel –

Parsons Parsons may refer to: Places In the United States: * Parsons, Kansas, a city * Parsons, Missouri, an unincorporated community * Parsons, Tennessee, a city * Parsons, West Virginia, a town * Camp Parsons, a Boy Scout camp in the state of Washingt ...

* V-12 – Pilatus (not built) * V-12 – Rockwell (conflicting designation, assigned after original V-12 was canceled) * ''V-13'' – skipped * ''V-14'' – skipped to avoid confusion with X-14 * V-15 – Bell * V-16 Harrier – McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace (unofficial, not built) * ''V-17'' – assigned to a U.S. Army project but not used * V-18 Twin Otter – de Havilland Canada * ''V-19'' – assigned to a U.S. Navy project but canceled * V-20 Chiricahua – Pilatus * ''V-21'' – rumored designation of an

Airship Industries Airship Industries was a British manufacturers of modern non-rigid airships (blimps) active under that name from 1980 to 1990 and controlled for part of that time by Alan Bond. The first company, Aerospace Developments, was founded in 1970, and ...

project * V-22 Osprey – Bell/Boeing * V-23 Scout –

Dominion The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...

* V-24 LightningStrike –

Aurora An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...

X: Special research

In addition to aircraft intended to support military operations, the unified system includes experimental craft designed to push the boundaries of aeronautical and aerospace knowledge. These aircraft are designated in the "X-series", which led them to become known as "X-planes". 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 #X: Experimental (1948–1962). * X-21 – Northrop * X-22 –

X-23 PRIME The Martin X-23A PRIME (Precision Reentry Including Maneuvering reEntry) (SV-5D) was a small lifting-body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the mid-1960s. Unlike ASSET, primarily used for structural and heating research, ...

– Martin Marietta (unofficial)Parsch 2009, "Missing Designations" * X-24 – Martin Marietta * X-25 –

Bensen The Bensen Aircraft Corporation was established by Dr. Igor Bensen at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina in 1952 to develop and market a variety of helicopters and autogyros of Bensen's own design. History The most successf ...

* X-26 Frigate – Schweizer * X-27 – Lockheed (not built) * X-28 –

Osprey The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...

* X-29 –

X-30 The Rockwell X-30 was an advanced technology demonstrator project for the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP), part of a United States project to create a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spacecraft and passenger spaceliner. Started in 1986, it was canc ...

– Rockwell (not built) *

X-31 The Rockwell-Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm X-31 was an experimental jet fighter designed to test fighter thrust vectoring technology. It was designed and built by Rockwell and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), as part of a joint US and German ' ...

– Rockwell/ MBB * X-32 –

X-33 The Lockheed Martin X-33 was a proposed uncrewed, sub-scale technology demonstrator suborbital spaceplane that was developed for a period in the 1990s. The X-33 was a technology demonstrator for the VentureStar orbital spaceplane, which was plan ...

–

(not built) *

X-34 The Orbital Sciences X-34 was intended to be a low-cost testbed for demonstrating "key technologies" that could be integrated into the Reusable Launch Vehicle program. It was intended to be an autonomous pilotless craft powered by a " Fastrac" li ...

– Orbital *

X-35 The Lockheed Martin X-35 is a concept demonstrator aircraft (CDA) developed by Lockheed Martin for the Joint Strike Fighter program. The X-35 was declared the winner over the competing Boeing X-32 and a developed, armed version went on to en ...

– Lockheed Martin *

X-36 The McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) X-36 ''Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft'' was an American stealthy subscale prototype jet designed to fly without the traditional empennage found on most aircraft. This configuration was designed ...

–

X-37 The Boeing X-37, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is a reusable robotic spacecraft. It is boosted into space by a launch vehicle, then re-enters Earth's atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane. The X-37 is operated by the United State ...

– Boeing *

X-38 The X-38 was an experimental re-entry vehicle designed by NASA to research a possible emergency crew return vehicle (CRV) for the International Space Station (ISS). The 1995–2002 program also developed concepts for a crew return vehicle design ...

–

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

Scaled Composites Scaled Composites (often called simply Scaled) is an American aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan and currently owned by Northrop Grumman. It is located at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, United States. Founded to deve ...

* X-39 – unknown contractor (unofficial) *

X-40 The Boeing X-40 Space Maneuver Vehicle was a test platform for the X-37 Future-X Reusable Launch Vehicle. History The unpiloted X-40A was built to 85% scale to test aerodynamics and navigation of the X-37 Future-X Reusable Launch Vehicle proj ...

– Boeing * X-41 – unknown contractor * X-42 – unknown contractor * X-43 –

* X-44 MANTA – Lockheed Martin (not built) * X-44 – Lockheed Martin (conflicting designation) * X-45 – Boeing * X-46 – Boeing (not built) * X-47 Pegasus –

X-47B The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for aircraft carrier-based operations. Developed by the American defense technology company Northrop Grumman, the X-47 project began as part of DARPA' ...

– Northrop Grumman ** X-47C – Northrop Grumman * X-48 – Boeing * X-49 SpeedHawk – Piasecki * X-50 Dragonfly – Boeing * X-51 Waverider – Boeing * ''X-52'' – skipped * X-53 – Boeing * X-54 –

(in development) * X-55 – Lockheed Martin *

X-56 The Lockheed Martin X-56 is an American modular unmanned aerial vehicle that is being designed to explore High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) flight technologies for use in future military unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Design and development ...

– Lockheed Martin * X-57 Maxwell – NASA (in development) * ''X-58'' – skipped *

X-59 QueSST The Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST ("Quiet SuperSonic Technology") is an American experimental supersonic aircraft being developed at Skunk Works for NASA's Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator project. Preliminary design started in February 2016, with th ...

– Lockheed Martin (in development) * X-60 –

Generation A generation refers to all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It can also be described as, "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and gr ...

* X-61 Gremlins –

Dynetics Dynetics is an American applied science and information technology company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. Its primary customers are the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the United States Intelligence Community, and National Ae ...

* X-62 VISTA –

(redesignated from NF-16D in 2021)

Z: Lighter-than-air

* Z-1 – GoodyearDOD 4120.15-L: Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles
, Department of Defense, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (AT&L) (Defense Systems), May 12, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2010. * Z-2 Sentinel – Westinghouse/

(not built) * Z-3 – American BlimpParsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L" * Z-4 –

Hybrid Air Vehicles Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) Limited is a British limited company and a British manufacturer of hybrid airships, though none have been built since the crash of its last demonstrator. These aircraft use both aerodynamics and lighter-than-air (LTA) ...

References

Notes

Citations

{{reflist

External links

OrBat United States of America – MilAvia Press.com: Military Aviation Publications

Joe Baugher Homepage

National Museum of the USAF – Home

Brown-Shoe Navy: U.S. Naval Aviation

Uncommon Aircraft
United States Tri-Service, List of aircraft designations Aircraft, Tri-Service

A: Attack aircraft

Non-sequential designations

B: Bomber

Non-sequential designation

C: Cargo/Transport

Revived 1924-1962 sequence (2005-present)

Non-sequential designations

D: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control segment

E: Special electronic installation

F: Fighter

Non-sequential designations

Other designations

G: Glider

H: Helicopter

Continuation of 1948 sequence

Non-sequential designations

K: Tanker

L: Laser-equipped

O: Observation

P: Maritime patrol

Q: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Non-sequential designations

R: Reconnaissance

S: Anti-submarine warfare

S: Spaceplane

SR: Strategic Reconnaissance

T: Trainer

Continued original sequence (1962–present)

1962 redesignations

1990 Sequence

U: Utility

Non-sequential designations

V: Vertical take-off/short take-off and landing (VTOL/STOL)

X: Special research

Z: Lighter-than-air

See also

References

Notes

Citations

External links