What’s up with those weird letters they put in front of military aircraft names,
anyway? Why is there seemingly one for every letter in the alphabet?
Well, the answer turns out to be…bureaucracy! During the Cold War, when aircraft were becoming
increasingly advanced, the five branches of the military still set their own designations for
aircraft - which could lead to some awkward situations. The F-4 Phantom II, one of the
most advanced aircraft of the time, was given the designation of F4H - and F110 Spectre by the Air
Force. No one wants to lose a multi-million dollar aircraft, so clearly something needed to change.
It was time for unity.
In 1962, the Tri-Service aircraft designation system was designed, giving almost every aircraft
a unified classification. This means that every branch of the military is on the same page - which
is especially important, given that a few seconds delay in a mission can be life or death.
Each vehicle can have as many as six designations, or as few as three. Every plane will have a design
number and series letter, which are used to identify the make and model of the plane.
They will also have a basic mission letter, which describes the plane’s standard purpose.
But in some cases, they may also have a status prefix, which is used to refer to them while
not conducting a normal operation. A modified mission designation refers to their status on
a specialized military mission, and vehicle type refers to certain key types of aircraft.
So let’s get into the alphabet - military style!
A is for…Attack!
An attack aircraft is a small tactical military aircraft that is designed for
bombing missions that are supposed to be carried out with precision.
These usually aren’t the aircrafts that will carry heavy-duty bombs,
but rather the smaller weapons that will target enemy installations or provide close
air support on a mission. They’re designed to fly close-quarters air-to-surface missions, and
are agile enough to dodge enemy fire. This class has existed since World War II, and is commonly
used in military engagements. This can be use as either the basic or modified mission designation.
B is for…Bomber!
This is the big gun. These military combat aircraft are designed to attack ground and
naval targets by dropping heavy weaponry. These can be traditional or guided bombs,
launching torpedoes, or air-launched cruise missiles. These have been the backbone of
the Air Force since it was founded, with aerial bombardments being a huge part of victory in both
the first and second World Wars. These planes run two kinds of missions - strategic bombing,
which is used to damage the enemy’s infrastructure, and tactical bombing
which counters enemy activity in the heat of battle. This designation is basic-mission only.
C is for…Cargo!
Not everyone can do the combat jobs, but the planes designated C are the backbone
of the military in many ways. Cargo planes are responsible for transporting heavy equipment to
the battlefield, and are often invaluable in supplying soldiers. These planes usually only
carry a few passengers at most, enough to ensure the safety of the cargo, so they lack all the
amenities of a traditional plane. Instead, they’re usually hollowed out to carry as much cargo as
possible, and are designed for easy loading and unloading. They’re often large enough for
unloading tools to drive directly into the plane. This applies to both basic and modified missions.
D is for…Drone Director
You’d probably think this is the newest member of the fleet, but drones have actually been around
for a very long time. During the 1950s, the 3205th Drone Group operated obsolete planes
as radio-controlled targets. They were supposed to get hit by other weaponry to
determine the effectiveness of new planes. Today, this unit is long-disbanded but the
designation of D usually refers to planes that are operating unmanned aircraft from the sky,
giving them a human eye closer to the events but still safely separated. This is one of the rarer
designations - as today, most drones are operated from bases hundreds or thousands of miles away.
This letter is also used for unmanned aerial vehicle control planes, as the vehicle type.
E is for…Electronic Warfare!
Another relatively new designation, these specialized planes are multi-purpose mobile
control centers. They usually have computer systems that blow any other plane out of the
water. So what are they for? What aren’t they for? If they’re stationed near the battlefield,
they may be responsible for collecting data and informing the team flying in. They may
also be involved in hacking enemy systems. But the biggest of these serve as air-based
bases for elite officials including the President and Secretary of Defense,
allowing them to run the country from an airplane if they need to get out of dodge in a hurry. If
a lower-case e is used as the status prefix, it means the vehicle has been digitally developed.
F is for…Fighter!
If the bomber is the backbone of the Air Force, the fighter jets are its fist. These
are the fastest planes in the military, designed primarily for air-to-air combat.
That’s right - these are the planes Maverick would use. These aircraft are designed to
achieve air superiority by engaging and destroying enemy fighters and bombers.
Some of these aircraft are multi-role and can engage in limited precision strikes.
G is for…Permanently Grounded!
Okay, not every designation can be so exciting. Sometimes vehicles reach the
end of their life cycle and need to be put out to pasture, but they can still be
useful for research and development. Planes with a status prefix of G have
either been damaged in combat or have just been eclipsed by new generations of planes,
and this means they’ve been gracefully retired. Another type of plane, the Glider, also has this
designation as a vehicle type- but don’t worry about confusion. The Glider is an early plane from
the World Wars and has been put out to pasture as well in favor of the next plane on the list.
H is for…Helicopter!
One of the oldest vehicle types in the military’s flying forces and certainly
the oldest still in use, these small planes are rotorcraft which are propelled into the air by
horizontally spinning rotors. They’re lightweight aircraft that generally aren’t heavily armed,
but they’re effective at transporting small numbers of soldiers into enemy territory and
are commonly used for search-and-rescue missions for both military and civilian
purposes. But don’t count them out in the military - Black Hawk helicopters were key
in getting the team into location for the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden. If a plane has this
as the modified mission designator, it’s being used on a search-and-rescue mission.
J is for…Special Test, Temporary!
This status prefix is for planes that have been loaned out to participate in tests of
new technology or mission parameters. They’re usually an established aircraft
that has proven itself on the battlefield, and is being used as the template for a new
model. They’ll be taken out of the field, delivered to a base or testing range,
and used as a test model for the duration of the experiment - before usually being
restored to their base model and returned to the field if possible.
K is for…Tanker!
Another unsung hero of the military aircraft world, tankers are essentially mobile fuel
tanks. Today, it’s common for planes to have to fly long distances on missions - so how
do they stay fueled all that time? They re-fuel in mid-air by hooking up to one
of these massive beasts. A flexible hose is extended from the tanker into the sky,
with the smaller plane precisely hooking up to it and taking that sweet, sweet fuel. This is
an incredibly tricky maneuver, and multiple deadly accidents have happened during the
development process - so today’s tankers are more user-friendly than ever before and are
keeping our planes in the air. This can be both a modified and basic mission prefix.
L is for…Laser-Equipped!
This is one of the rarest basic mission prefixes today, but it might not be for long. The use of
high-powered lasers on military vehicles is becoming increasingly common, but right
now they are primarily used on naval ships. Once they become smaller, easier to produce,
and more portable, they may be mounted on planes - giving the airplane a weapon for either destroying
enemy planes or targets, or temporarily blinding an enemy. But surprisingly, this
designation means something completely different for a modified mission prefix. It means the plane
has been modified for cold-weather operations, and is likely being sent into an Arctic raid.
M is for…Multi-Mission!
This modified mission prefix won’t show up too often - but if it does, the odds
are something special is afoot. This is a plane that’s usually being sent on a more
complex mission that could go either way depending on circumstances. It may
be a reconnaissance spy plane that is equipped with weapons if it needs to fight its way out,
or a cargo plane equipped electronic spying technology. The odds are, if you have to ask
what one of these planes is there for, your clearance isn’t high enough to find out!
N is for…Special Test, Permanent!
This status prefix is for planes that have been specifically designed as test
vehicles. They’re never going to see combat again, and usually have long service lives as
they’re frequently modified to test out new technology. Some of these are prototypes,
while others have taken too much damage in combat but can still fly,
so they get this designation in lieu of being permanently grounded.
O is for…Observation!
These planes, which can be either a modified or basic mission designation, are usually either
unarmed or only contain defensive weapons. Their primary function is surveillance,
and are often responsible for spotting enemy forces and weaponry before the armed planes
head in. While they’re a key part of military operations, they are also often the last planes
left in an area as peacekeeping forces. While they’re still heavily used today, they are
slowly being replaced by unmanned vehicles that collect footage and send it back to the command
center for analysis. If it’s being used as a basic mission prefix, it’s being operated by
Forward Air Control, which is responsible for preventing friendly fire casualties in combat.
P is for…Maritime Patrol!
This is for any vehicle that patrols over an open body of water, usually either at a port
or surrounding an island military base. While boats often take on the role of maritime patrol,
it can be handled by aircraft when needed. This is especially common during wartime or when a port
is requires enhanced security. These planes’ job is usually to watch for any unusual boat or air
traffic coming into the location, either turn them back or direct them for inspection - and
if needed, shoot them out of the sky. This can be either a basic or modified mission prefix, but the
latter is more common for observation, fighter, or attack planes that carry out this role.
Q is for…Unmanned Aerial Vehicle!
This is one of the newest designations, so it’s not a surprise that it’s stuck with the Q. This
can be either a modified mission or vehicle type designator, and it applies to any plane
that is meant to be operated remotely. They can be operated from base, or from an aerial
drone operator. While they were initially used for observation and collecting intel,
today’s drones are increasingly advanced and can be used to carry out bombing missions - or even
in some cases, more precisely targeted missions against solitary targets.
R is for…Reconnaissance!
Similar to observation planes but much more advanced, reconnaissance aircraft
are usually sent in to conduct scouting of enemy territory. These planes are usually designed to be
as stealthy as possible, and are often nicknamed “spy planes”. Lightweight aircraft with minimal
defense capabilities, their goal is to get in and out without being noticed - and come back
with advanced intelligence on enemy capabilities, the location of their troops and leaders, and the
facilities they may be hiding in. This is both a basic and modified mission prefix, and the success
or failure of a mission is often determined before the mission even begins thanks to these planes.
S is for…Anti-Submarine Warfare!
The battle against enemy naval forces isn’t just fought on and under the sea - it’s often planes
that provide the key edge to detect enemy submarines first. These planes are typically
equipped with sonar capabilities and can provide early warning - but how do they tell which side a
submarine is on? Friendly fire was a major problem in the world wars, so the analysis of acoustic
signatures can often provide valuable clues. This is both a modified and basic mission prefix.
But if you find a plane with a vehicle prefix of S,
it means something completely different - it’s a spaceplane! This is a rocket-powered
vehicle that can fly and glide in Earth’s atmosphere before taking on the function
of a traditional spacecraft in outer space. While these are non-combat aircraft for now,
if the space race ever gets particularly…intense, it’ll be these vehicles that give us the edge.
T is for…Trainer!
Training the future pilots of the military forces is one of the most important jobs the Air Force
has - but it comes with a risk. If you send your pilots up in elite aircraft right at the start,
you stand the risk of losing a massive investment every time someone washes
out. So what’s the answer? Trainer aircraft, smaller and specially designed aircraft with
enhanced safety features. These can include tandem flight controls, a simplified cockpit,
and warning systems to alert pilots of their mistakes. These are usually light aircrafts
that are easier to handle, making sure the pilot has their basic skills perfected before they get
their hands on the big guns. This can be both a modified and basic mission prefix.
U is for…Utility!
This is an all-purpose light airplane or helicopter, usually used for basic
duties like troop or supply transport. It can be equipped with weapons, but it won’t be able to
pull off the more precise military missions of specialized aircraft. This can be both a basic
and modified mission prefix - because when you need quick troop or supply transport,
almost any aircraft can be designated as a utility vehicle. But the military always has
some of these ready to go if they need an ol’ reliable without risking one of their big guns.
V is for…VIP!
If a plane has a modified mission marker of V, that means it’s been taken out of service to
transport a key person in the operation. This may be a President or Secretary of Defense visiting a
battlefield to support the troops, or it could be a hostage being rescued and taken back home.
It could even be a wanted enemy leader who has been captured and is being transported
for trial. But this plane will likely be the most highly guarded in the entire squadron.
But if it has a vehicle type designation of V, it means something very different - it’s a plane
that’s been designed for vertical take-off or short takeoff and landing, so it can land
in places without traditional runways. These are commonly used for emergency pickups and drop-offs.
W is for…Weather Reconnaissance!
It’s not just enemy forces that pose a key danger to planes - weather can be unpredictable,
and any changes in weather conditions can compromise a mission. A sudden lightning
storm could result in the loss of a billion dollar aircraft. A heavy cloud cover could obscure the
bombing location of a terrorist’s hideout. That’s why weather reconnaissance planes are sent in,
and this modified mission designation usually refers to any plane outfitted to
scout ahead and radio back about weather conditions before the mission proceeds.
X is for…Experimental!
This can be either a status prefix or a basic mission designation,
and refers to any experimental plane that is in the process of being used for special
research. Also called X-planes, they are used to test and evaluate new techniques,
technologies, and models. There have been over fifty in US military history - and
many have become the foundations for quantum leaps in US aircraft technology.
Y is for….Prototype!
One step before the experimental phase, these are planes that aren’t meant to fly yet. They’re the
base models that are built on, and some advance to becoming experimental while others are scrapped
when the model just doesn’t work! You’ll never see a plane with a Y status prefix on the battlefield,
but you may find some unique models on the grounds of any Air Force base.
Z is for…Lighter than Air!
This used to be the status prefix for planes in the planning phase, but this designation
was combined with prototype eventually - since you don’t need a separate designation for planes
that aren’t built yet. Instead, it’s been given to a very different type of plane as a vehicle
type designation - planes that use buoyant gas for lift. These balloon-like vehicles
have limited military application today, but can be used for unconventional operations.
But what about the letters and numbers you see above the cockpit on civilian
planes? What’s up with those? Is there some top-secret code there as well?
No, those are just the aircraft registration assigned in the factory. Not everything has
some big code to it - the same can’t be said about the military.
Want to know more about the military’s secrets?
Check out “Most Insane Weapons the US Military Is Actually Using Today”,
or “Military/Army Hand Signals Explained” for more of their trade secrets.