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 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system, 1919 and 1924 United States Arm ...

. 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 designated AD before the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations) is an American single-seat attack aircraft in service from 1946 to the early 1980s, which served during the Korean War and Vietnam ...

–

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 Civil ...

(redesignated from Navy AD) * A-1 Skyraider II – Air Tractor/

L3Harris L3Harris Technologies, Inc. is an American technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider that produces products for command and control systems, wireless equipment, tactical radios, avionics and electroni ...

(conflicting designation, assigned after original A-1 was retired) * A-2 Savage –

North American North America is a continent in the Northern and Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the sou ...

(redesignated from Navy AJ) *

A-3 Skywarrior The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior is a jet propulsion, 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 aircraft carrier, carr ...

– Douglas (redesignated from Navy A3D) *

A-4 Skyhawk The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single-seat subsonic carrier-capable light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company, and later, McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated A4D und ...

– Douglas (redesignated from Navy A4D) * A-5 Vigilante – North American (redesignated from Navy A3J) *

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

–

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 19 ...

(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 wa ...

–

Ling-Temco-Vought Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2001. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, ...

* A-8 –

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 fifth largest in the Unit ...

(unconfirmed) * A-9 – Northrop *

A-10 Thunderbolt II The Fairchild Republic A-10 , also infamously known under the nickname , is a single-seat, twinjet, twin-turbofan, straight wing, straight-wing, Subsonic aircraft, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Aircraft, Fairchild Republic ...

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

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

–

McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas Corporation was a major American Aerospace manufacturer, 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 ...

(not built) * ''A-13'' – skipped * A-14 Super Tucano –

Embraer Embraer S.A. () is a Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation. It develops and manufactures aircraft and aviation systems, and provides leasing, equipment, and technical support services. Embraer is the third largest producer of civil air ...

(redesignated to A-29B)

Non-sequential designations

* A-16 –

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

–

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 a series of American supersonic twinjet, twin-engine, Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Ho ...

–

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

EA-18G Growler The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American aircraft carrier, carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA- ...

– Boeing *

A-26 Invader The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Col ...

–

(originally designated A-26, then B-26 after the

B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in t ...

was retired, reverted to A-26 during

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

-era) * A-29 Super Tucano –

* A-37 Dragonfly –

Cessna Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufactu ...

(redesignated from AT-37) * A-37 –

Gulfstream The Gulf Stream is a warm Atlantic Ocean current. Gulf Stream or Gulfstream may also refer to: Businesses *Gulf Stream Hotel, an historic hotel in Lake Worth Beach, Florida *Gulfstream Aerospace, manufacturer of private jet aircraft *Gulfstream C ...

(conflicting designation, redesignated from EC-37 after original A-37 was retired)

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 has been nicknamed the "Bone" (from "B-One"). , it is one of the United States Air Force's three strategic bombers, along with th ...

– Rockwell *

B-2 Spirit The Northrop B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is an American Heavy bomber, heavy strategic bomber, featuring low-observable stealth aircraft, stealth technology designed to penetrator (aircraft), penetrate dense anti-aircraft war ...

–

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational Aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and Arms industry, defense company. With 97,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion, it is one of the world's largest Arms industry ...

Non-sequential designation

* B-21 Raider –

(in development) * FB-22 –

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American Arms industry, defense and aerospace manufacturer with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta on March 15, 1995. It is headquartered in North ...

(not built) * FB-111 Aardvark –

(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 List of United States Navy aircraft carriers, aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. Its primary mission is ...

– Grumman * C-3 –

Martin Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...

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

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, military aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of Beech Aircraft Corporation, an American manufacture ...

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 STOL, short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. The Caribou was first flown in 1 ...

–

de Havilland Canada De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (DHC) is a Canadian aircraft manufacturer that has produced numerous aircraft models since its inception including the popular De Havilland Canada Dash 8, Dash 8. The company's primary facilities were loca ...

(redesignated from V-2) * C-7 – de Havilland Canada (conflicting designation, redesignated to O-5) * C-8 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (redesignated from V-7) * 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, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. ...

– 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 developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...

– Boeing * C-18 – Boeing * C-19 – Boeing * C-20 – Gulfstream ** C-20F/G/H/J – Gulfstream * C-21 –

Learjet Learjet was a manufacturer of business jets for civilian and military use based in Wichita, Kansas, United States. Founded in the late 1950s by William Powell Lear as Swiss American Aviation Corporation, it became a subsidiary of Canadian Bomba ...

* 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 STOL, short takeoff and landings (STOL). It features a large squared fuselage with a full-width rea ...

– Short * 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 ...

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 the former Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27 ...

–

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 pr ...

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 the former Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27 ...

– Alenia * C-28 Titan –

* C-29 –

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

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

Fokker Fokker (; ) was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer that operated from 1912 to 1996. The company was founded by the Dutch aviator Anthony Fokker and became famous during World War I for its fighter aircraft. During its most successful period in the 19 ...

* 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 was a modified Boeing 747-400F with a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside. It was primarily designed to test its feasibility as a missile defense system to destroy tactica ...

* C-37 – Gulfstream **

C-37B The Gulfstream G550 is an American business jet aircraft produced by the General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The certification designation is GV-SP. A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G50 ...

– 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, United States Air Force, Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps. Th ...

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

EADS Airbus SE ( ; ; ; ) is a Pan-European aerospace corporation. The company's primary business is the design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft but it also has separate defence and space and helicopter divisions. Airbus has long been th ...

(not built) * C-46 Pegasus – Boeing

Revived 1924-1962 sequence (2005-present)

Only aircraft designated after the adoption of the Tri-Service system are listed below. For aircraft in the sequence designated before 1962, see . * C-143 – Bombardier * C-144 Ocean Sentry –

* C-145 Skytruck –

PZL PZL, may refer to: Places * PZL, an IATA airport code for Phinda Airfield in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa * PZL, a location code for the Złotów County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, in the system of the vehicle registration plates of Polan ...

* C-146 Wolfhound – Dornier * C-147 –

Non-sequential designations

* C-767 –

* C-880 –

Convair Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, 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 ...

D: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control segment

The "D" sequence is assigned to ground control stations for UAVs. * D-1 –

General Atomics General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, that specializes in research and technology development. This includes physics research in support of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion en ...

, 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, Unmanned aerial vehicle, remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft introduced in 2001. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical (now part of Northrop Grumman), and known as Tier II+ d ...

* D-3 – Northrop Grumman, ground equipment for the MQ-4C Triton * D-4 – Northrop Grumman, ground equipment for the MQ-8 Fire Scout * D-5 – US Navy, ground equipment for the MQ-25 Stingray

E: Special electronic installation

* E-1 Tracer –

(redesignated from Navy WF) *

E-2 Hawkeye The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft ...

– Grumman (redesignated from Navy W2F) *

E-3 Sentry The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by Boeing. E-3s are commonly known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). Derived from the Boeing 707 airliner, it provides all-weath ...

–

* E-4 – Boeing ** E-4C – Boeing/

Sierra Nevada Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation (also styled SNC) is an American aerospace, defense, electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. The corporation contracts ...

* E-5 Eagle – Windecker * E-6 Mercury – 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 retired United States Air Force (USAF) airborne ground surveillance, battle management and command and control aircraft. It tracked ground vehicles and ...

–

* E-9 Widget –

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

Non-sequential designations

* E-130 –

F: Fighter

* F-1 Fury –

(redesignated from Navy FJ) ** F-1E/F Fury – North American (redesignated from Navy FJ-4) * F-2 Banshee – McDonnell (redesignated from Navy F2H) * F-3 Demon – McDonnell (redesignated from Navy F3H) *

F-4 Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber that was developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bower ...

–

(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 designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Vought. It was the last American fighter that had guns as the primar ...

–

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 ...

(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 – 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, tandem two-seat, twin-tail, all-weather-capable variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experi ...

– Grumman *

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

– McDonnell Douglas ** NF-15B STOL/MTD - 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. Intended for the Dual-Role Fighter (DRF) program (initially called Enhanced Tactical Fi ...

– McDonnell Douglas/Boeing ** F-15EX Eagle II - Boeing ** F-15J -

Mitsubishi The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries. Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group traces its origins to the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company that existed from 1870 to 194 ...

/McDonnell Douglas *

F-16 Fighting Falcon The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...

–

** NF-16D VISTA – General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin (redesignated X-62 in 2021) ** F-16XL – General Dynamics * F-17 Cobra – Northrop *

– McDonnell Douglas **

– Boeing **

– Boeing * ''

F-19 F-19 is a skipped DoD designation in the Tri-Service fighter aircraft designation sequence which was thought by many popular media outlets to have been allocated to the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. The designation was actually skipped at Northrop's ...

'' – skipped * F-20 Tigershark – Northrop (redesignated from F-5G) * F-21 Kfir –

Israel Aerospace Industries Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI; ), is Israel's major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 14,000 employees as of 2021. IAI is state-owned by the government ...

F-22 Raptor The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an American twin-engine, jet-powered, all-weather, supersonic stealth fighter aircraft. As a product of the United States Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was de ...

– Lockheed Martin ** YF-22 – Lockheed Martin ** FB-22 – Lockheed Martin * F-23 – 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, supersonic Stealth aircraft, stealth strike fighters. A multirole combat aircraft designed for both Air superiority fighter, air superiority and att ...

–

(kept the X-35 prototype number) * F-47 – Boeing *

F-117 Nighthawk The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is an officially retired American single-seat, subsonic, twin-engined, stealth attack aircraft developed by Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works division and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). It was ...

– Lockheed (based on original YF-117 black project designation)

Other designations

Designations YF-110 and YF-112 through YF-116 were acquired (captured or purchased) foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor training. Designations YF-117 and YF-118 were

black project Black project is an informal term used to describe a highly classified, top-secret military or defense project that is not publicly acknowledged by government, military personnel, or contractors. United States and black projects In the United S ...

s, with the F-117 designation later becoming the official Tri-Service designation of the production variant of the former. These designations chronologically continued 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 (not to be confused with the pre-1962 F-110 Spectre) ** YF-110B –

Mikoyan-Gurevich Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" (), commonly known as Mikoyan and MiG, is a Russian aerospace and defence company headquartered in Begovoy District, Moscow. Mikoyan was the successor to the Soviet Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau (Мик ...

(captured MiG-21F-13 under Have Doughnut) ** YF-110C –

Chengdu Chengdu; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ; Chinese postal romanization, previously Romanization of Chinese, romanized as Chengtu. is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a ...

(captured J-7B) ** YF-110D – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-21MF under Have Doughnut) ** YF-110E/L/M – captured aircraft of unknown type under Have Phoenix * YF-112 ** YF-112C/D –

Sukhoi The JSC Sukhoi Company (, ) is a Russian aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, that designs both civilian and military aircraft. Sukhoi was founded in the Soviet Union by Pavel Sukhoi ...

(acquired former East German Su-22M4) * YF-113 ** YF-113A – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-17F under Have Drill) ** YF-113B – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-23BN) ** YF-113C –

Shenyang Shenyang,; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly known as Fengtian formerly known by its Manchu language, Manchu name Mukden, is a sub-provincial city in China and the list of capitals in China#Province capitals, provincial capital of Liaonin ...

(captured J-5 under Have Privilege, later reused for unknown type under Have Phoenix) ** YF-113D – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-23MS) ** ''YF-113G'' – possible USAF "black project" ** YF-113H – captured aircraft of unknown type under Have Phoenix * YF-114 ** YF-114C – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-17F under Have Ferry) ** YF-114D – Mikoyan-Gurevich (captured MiG-17PF) * YF-116 ** YF-116A – Mikoyan-Gurevich (borrowed German MiG-29 under Have Loan) * YF-117 ** YF-117A Senior Trend – Lockheed (later made official) ** YF-117D Tacit Blue – Northrop * YF-118 ** YF-118G Bird of Prey –

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 * G-11 – Stemme * G-12 – Caproni Vizzola * ''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 *

G-15 The Group of 15 (G-15)Thofficial website adopts the "G-15" orthography (with a hyphen) in order to distinguish an abbreviated reference to this group -- contrasts with other similarly named entities. is an informal forum set up to foster coopera ...

–

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 "Sport ...

** G-15B – Schempp-Hirth * G-16 – DG Flugzeugbau

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 /ˈbɛl/ () 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 m ...

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

– 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 – 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 A ...

– 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. It is one of the latest members of the prolific Bell Huey family. It is oft ...

– Bell * H-2 Seasprite – Kaman (redesignated from Navy HU2K) ** H-2G Super Seasprite – Kaman * H-3 Sea King –

Sikorsky Sikorsky or Sikorski may refer to: * Sikorsky (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Sikorsky (crater), a lunar crater * Sikorsky Aircraft, an American aircraft manufacturer People with the surname * Brian Sikorski (born 1974), Major League Basebal ...

(redesignated from Navy HSS-2) ** H-3C/E/F Sea King – Sikorsky * H-4 – Bell (redesignated from Army HO-4) * H-5 – Fairchild Hiller (redesignated from Army HO-5) * H-6 Cayuse – Hughes/

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 –

MH-6 Little Bird The Boeing MH-6M Little Bird (nicknamed the Killer Egg) and its attack helicopter, attack variant, the AH-6, are light Helicopter, helicopters used for special operations in the United States Army. Originally based on a modified OH-6 Cayuse, OH ...

– Hughes/ McDonnell Douglas/MD Helicopters

Continuation of 1948 sequence

Only aircraft designated after the adoption of the Tri-Service system are listed below. For aircraft in the sequence designated before 1962, see . * H-46 Sea Knight – Boeing Vertol * 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 needs to be driven by its engine only for takeoff and landing, and includes one or more conventional propeller or jet engines to provide thrust during cruising flig ...

* H-51 – Lockheed * H-52 Sea Guard –

* 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 – Sikorsky ** CH-53K King Stallion – Sikorsky * H-54 Tarhe – Sikorsky * H-55 Osage – Hughes * 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 modificati ...

– Sikorsky **

Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk The Sikorsky MH-60/HH-60 Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. The HH-60 Pave Hawk and its successor the HH-60W Jolly Green II are combat rescue helicopters, though ...

– Sikorsky **

Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk The Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk is a multi-mission, twin-engine, medium-range helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft and operated by the United States Coast Guard for various Military operation, missions including search and rescue, Specialist law ...

– Sikorsky * H-61 – Boeing Vertol * H-62 – Boeing Vertol * H-63 – Bell * H-64 Apache – Hughes * H-65 Dolphin –

Aérospatiale Aérospatiale () was a major French state-owned aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and arms industry, defence corporation. It was founded in 1970 as () through the merger of three established state-owned companies: Sud Aviation, Nord Aviation ...

* H-66 Comanche –

/Sikorsky * H-66 Sage –

Robinson Robinson may refer to: People and names * Robinson (name) Fictional characters * Robinson Crusoe, the main character, and title of a novel by Daniel Defoe, published in 1719 Geography * Robinson projection, a map projection used since the 19 ...

(conflicting designation, assigned after the original H-66 was canceled) * H-67 Creek – Bell * H-68 Stingray –

Agusta Agusta was an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It was based in Samarate, Northern Italy. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first aeroplane in 1907. The MV Agusta motorcycle manufacturer began as an offshoot ...

* ''H-69'' – skipped * H-70 Arapaho – Bell * H-71 Kestrel –

* H-72 Lakota –

Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter S.A., trade name, trading as Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturer, helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopte ...

* 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 –

** VH-92 – 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 O-1 Bird Dog is a Liaison aircraft, liaison and observation aircraft that first flew on December 14, 1949, and entered service in 1950 as the L-19 in the Korean War. It went to serve in many branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, was no ...

–

(redesignated from Air Force L-19) * O-2 Skymaster – Cessna * O-3 Quiet Star – Lockheed * ''O-4'' – reserved for a quiet observation aircraft, speculated to have been the Wren 460QB * O-5 ARL –

(redesignated from RC-7) * 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 aircraft, maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed Corporation, Lockh ...

– 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. It is based on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner by Lockheed; it is e ...

– Lockheed (redesignated from Navy P3V) ** EP-3 Orion/ARIES – Lockheed ** WP-3D Orion – Lockheed * P-4 Privateer – Consolidated (redesignated from Navy PB4Y-2/P4Y-2) * P-5 Marlin –

(redesignated from Navy P5M) * ''P-6'' – skipped * P-7 – Lockheed (not built) *

P-8 Poseidon The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol aircraft, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security. It was developed for the United States Navy as a derivative of the civilian ...

–

* P-9 –

De Havilland Canada De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (DHC) is a Canadian aircraft manufacturer that has produced numerous aircraft models since its inception including the popular De Havilland Canada Dash 8, Dash 8. The company's primary facilities were loca ...

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 – General Atomics * Q-10 SnowGoose – MMIST * Q-11 Raven –

AeroVironment AeroVironment, Inc. is an American Arms industry, defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Paul MacCready, Paul B. MacCready Jr., a designer of human-powered aircraft, ...

* 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 automation, industrial automa ...

* Q-17 SpyHawk – MTC Technologies * Q-18 Hummingbird – Boeing * Q-19 Aerosonde – AAI * Q-20 Puma – AeroVironment * Q-20 Avenger – General Atomics (conflicting designation) * Q-21 Integrator – Boeing Insitu * Q-22 – AeroVironment * Q-23 – NASC * Q-24 – Kaman * Q-25 Stingray –

* Q-26 –

Aeronautics Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design process, design, and manufacturing of air flight-capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. While the term originally referred ...

* Q-27 – Boeing * Q-28 – Skydio

Non-sequential designations

* Q-35 – Shield AI * Q-42 –

* Q-44–

Anduril Industries Anduril Industries, Inc. is an American defense technology company that specializes in autonomous systems. It was cofounded in 2017 by inventor and entrepreneur Palmer Luckey and others. Anduril aims to sell to the United States Department of De ...

* Q-58 – Kratos * Q-67 –

* Q-72 Great Horned Owl –

* Q-170 Sentinel –

R: Reconnaissance

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

S: Anti-submarine warfare

* ''S-1'' – skipped * S-2 Tracker –

(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 Adva ...

(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 The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. Its nicknames include " Blackbird" and ...

– Lockheed * SR-72 –

(unofficial, 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-55 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-41 Gulfstream –

(redesignated TC-4B, not built) * T-41 Mescalero –

(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 – Beechcraft * T-45 Goshawk –

BAE Systems BAE Systems plc is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Aerospace industry, aerospace, military technology, military and information security company, based in London. It is the largest manufacturer in Britain as of 2017. It is ...

* T-46 –

* T-47 – Cessna * T-48 – Cessna (not built) * T-48 MPATS – unknown contractor (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 () is the first South Korean supersonic advanced jet trainer, light combat aircraft, and light strike-fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. It is South Korea's first indigenous ...

–

Korea Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI; ) is a South Korean aerospace and defense manufacturer. It was originally established as a joint venture of Daewoo Heavy Industries' aerospace division, Samsung Aerospace, and Hyundai Space and Aircraft ...

(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. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of e ...

* T-53 – Cirrus *

T-54 The T-54 and T-55 tanks are a series of Soviet medium tanks introduced in the years following the Second World War. The first T-54 prototype was completed at Nizhny Tagil by the end of 1945.Steven Zaloga, T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944–2 ...

– Beechcraft

1962 redesignations

* T-1 SeaStar – Lockheed (redesignated from Navy T2V) * T-2 Buckeye –

(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 is a business unit of RTX Corporation and is a major U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. Founded in 1922, it merged in 2020 with Unite ...

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: People * Slingsby (surname) * Slingsby Baronets Places * Slingsby, North Yorkshire * Slingsby Channel, a strait in the Queen Charlotte Strait region of the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada Other uses

* Slingsby ...

* ''T-4'' – skipped * ''T-5'' – skipped * T-6 Texan II – Hawker Beechcraft * T-7 Red Hawk –

U: Utility

* U-1 Otter –

* U-2 – Lockheed (cover designation to hide the aircraft's true role) * U-3 –

(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 (redesignated from Army L-21) * U-8 Seminole –

(redesignated from Army L-23) ** NU-8F – Beechcraft (redesignated to YU-21) * 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 – Beechcraft * U-22 Pave Eagle – Beechcraft * U-23 Peacemaker – Fairchild Hiller/ Pilatus * U-24 Stallion – Helio * U-25 Huron – Beechcraft (redesignated C-12) * U-25 Guardian –

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

(conflicting designation, assigned after the original U-25 was redesignated) * U-26 Super Skywagon – Cessna * U-27 Caravan – Cessna * U-28 – Pilatus

Non-sequential designations

* U-38 Twin Condor – Schweizer

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

* V-1 Mohawk –

(redesignated from Army AO-1) * V-2 Caribou –

(redesignated from Army AC-1, then to C-7) * 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 Hawker Siddeley was a group of British manufacturing companies engaged in list of aircraft manufacturers, aircraft production. Hawker Siddeley combined the legacies of several British aircraft manufacturers, emerging through a series of mergers ...

(redesignated from Army VZ-12) * V-7 Buffalo – de Havilland Canada (redesignated from Army AC-2, then to C-8) * V-8 – Ryan * V-8 Harrier – Hawker Siddeley (conflicting designation, assigned after original V-8 was retired) ** V-8B Harrier II –

* V-9 – Hughes * V-10 Bronco – Rockwell/

* V-11 Marvel – Parsons * 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 The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-use, tiltrotor military transport aircraft, military transport and cargo aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed ...

– Bell/Boeing * V-23 Scout –

Dominion A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...

* V-24 LightningStrike –

Aurora An aurora ( aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly observed in high-latitude regions (around the Arc ...

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-21 – Northrop * X-22 –

X-23 PRIME The Martin X-23A PRIME (Precision Reentry Including Maneuvering reEntry) (SV-5D) is 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 The Martin Marietta Corporation was an American company founded in 1961 through the merger of Glenn L. Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation. In 1995, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. History Martin Marie ...

(unofficial) * X-24 – Martin Marietta * X-25 – Bensen * X-26 Frigate – Schweizer * X-27 – Lockheed (not built) * X-28 – (homebuilt) * X-29 –

* X-30 – Rockwell (not built) *

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

– 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 pl ...

–

(not built) * X-34 – Orbital * X-35 – Lockheed Martin * X-36 –

* X-37 – Boeing * X-38 –

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

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 d ...

* X-39 – unknown contractor (unofficial) * X-40 – 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 – Northrop Grumman ** X-47C – Northrop Grumman (unofficial) * 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 Modularity, 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 d ...

– Lockheed Martin * X-57 Maxwell – NASA (in development) * ''X-58'' – skipped * X-59 QueSST – Lockheed Martin (in development) * X-60 –

Generation A generation is all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively. It also is "the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and b ...

* 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) * ''X-63'' – skipped * ''X-64'' – skipped * X-65 CRANE –

* X-66 – Boeing

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 Blimp * 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 iNov 2017 These aircraft use both aerodynamics and lighter-than- ...

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

Non-sequential designations

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