List of military aircraft of the United States

This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and are often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed with "Y".

The United States military employs a designation and naming system to provide identifications to all aircraft types. Until 1962, the United States Army, United States Air Force (formerly Army Air Force), and United States Navy all maintained separate systems. In September 1962,[1] these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.

This list does not include aircraft used by the U.S. military services prior to the establishment of a numerical designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (1909–1919). It also does not include aircraft designated under the pre-1962 United States Navy designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (naval).

A collection of NASA experimental aircraft, including (clockwise from left) the X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL, X-38, Radio Controlled Mothership, and X-36.

Prior to 1919

Prior to 1919, all planes flown by the Army Air Service and the Navy were referred to by the designation given to them by their manufacturer. A variety of both domestic and foreign types were operated, with the latter being the primary front-line types during the First World War.

Army Air Service, 1919–1924

Curtiss PW-8

In September 1919, the Army Air Service decided that it needed an organized designation sequence, and adopted fifteen classifications, designated by Roman numerals. Several other unnumbered designations were added later. Each designation was assigned an abbreviation, and each design a number within that abbreviation. Variants were designated by alphabetically appending letters to the design number.

Type O: Foreign-Built Pursuit Aircraft

Type I: Pursuit, water-cooled

Type II: Pursuit, night

Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled

Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922

Type V: Two-seat pursuit

Type VI: Ground attack, 1920–1922

Type VII: Infantry liaison

Type VIII: Night observation

Type IX: Artillery observation

Type X: Corps observation

Type XI: Day bombardment

Type XII: Night bombardment, short range

Type XIII: Night bombardment, long range

Type XIV: Trainer, air-cooled

Type XV: Trainer, water-cooled

Ambulance, 1919–1924

Messenger

Pursuit, special

Racer

Verville-Sperry R-3

Seaplane

Transport

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force 1924–1962

A-3 Falcon

Attack, 1924–1948

Bomber

Huff-Daland LB-1

Until 1926, the Army Air Service had three sequences for bombers. Light bombers were indicated by the LB- prefix, medium bombers by the B- prefix, and heavy bombers by the HB- prefix. In 1926, the three-category system was scrapped and all bombers subsequently built were placed in the B- sequence.

Light Bomber, 1924–1926

Medium Bomber, 1924–1926

Heavy Bomber, 1924–1926

Unified bomber sequence, 1926–1962

Martin B-10B
Beginning with #69, the "M-" (missile) and "B-" (bomber) series diverged. The missiles designated M-69 to M-92, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, never used a "B-" series designation.

Bomber, long range, 1935–1936

A short-lived designation used from 1935–1936 to refer to three long-range bomber projects commissioned by the Army Air Corps. Most of the bombers were night bombers.

Cargo, 1924–1962

Douglas C-1 refueling Fokker C-2

Drone

Culver PQ-8A

Aerial Target

1922–1935
1940–1941
1942–1948

Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942–1948

Radioplane OQ-2A

Controllable bomb, 1942–1945

Target Control, 1942–1948

Unified sequence, 1948–1962

Glider

Assault Glider, 1942–1944

Bomb Glider, 1942–1944

Cargo Glider, 1941–1948

Waco CG-4A

Fuel Glider, 1930–1948

Powered Glider, 1943–1948

Training Glider, 1941–1948

Schweitzer TG-3A

Unified sequence, 1948–1955

Sailplane, 1960–1962

Gyroplane, 1935–1939

Liaison, 1942–1962

Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948–1962

P-3 Hawk

Designated P- for "pursuit" until 1948, when the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained.

Fighter, Multiplace

Pursuit, Biplace

Observation

Observation, 1924–1942

Observation amphibian, 1925–1948

Reconnaissance

Photographic reconnaissance, 1930–1948 / Reconnaissance, 1948–1962

Reconnaissance-strike, 1960–1962

Both of the following aircraft are numbered in the B- (bomber) sequence.

Rotary wing 1941–1948 and helicopter 1948–present

In 1941, the category letter R- was allotted for "rotary wing" aircraft, and this designation was used until the founding of the United States Air Force in 1947, at which point the category letter was changed to H-, for "helicopter". However, the original numbering sequence was retained.

In 1962 when the Unified Designation System was adopted, six former Navy and Army types received new designations in the H-1 to H-6 series, which can be found here. However, the original sequence was also continued, and remains in use to the present, with the next designation available being H-73.

Lockheed XH-51

Supersonic/special test, 1946–1948

Trainer

Advanced Trainer, 1925–1948

Basic Combat, 1936–1940

Basic Trainer, 1930–1948

Primary Trainer, 1925–1948

Unified sequence, 1948–present

The AT-6 Texan, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan, were retroactively given T- designations. The new sequence began at 28, continuing the "PT-" numbering sequence.

Convertiplane, 1952–1962

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/notable variants
V-1   McDonnell Aircraft 14 July 1954 Formerly XL-25
Formerly XH-35
V-2   Sikorsky Aircraft   project cancelled before prototype built
V-3   Bell Helicopter 11 August 1955 Formerly H-33

Army, 1956–1962

AO-1 Mohawk

In 1956, the U.S. Army adopted a new, and relatively simple, designation system for its aviation assets. Aircraft were divided into three different types – 'A' for fixed-wing aircraft, 'H' for helicopters, or 'V' for V/STOL aircraft, and then were given a mission modifier, which, unlike the USAF system, came after the type code: 'C' for transports, 'O' for observation and reconnaissance aircraft, 'U' for utility types, and 'Z' for experimental aircraft. Aircraft types designated in this system were numbered sequentially.[8]

Airplane, Cargo, 1956–1962

Airplane, Observation, 1956–1962

Airplane, Research, 1956–1962

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/notable variants
AZ-1 Marvelette Mississippi State University 16 November 1962  

Flying Platform, 1955–1956

Helicopter, Cargo, 1956–1962

Helicopter, Observation, 1956–1962

Helicopter, Utility, 1956–1962

Helicopter, Experimental, 1956–1962

Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956–1962

VZ-9 Avrocar

Unified System, 1962–present

Airborne Laser

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
AL-1   Boeing [9]
Airborne Laser Testbed

Airship

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
Z-1   Goodyear [9]
Z-2 Sentinel Westinghouse Airships
Z-3   American Blimp [3]

Anti-Submarine Warfare

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
S-1 Skipped
S-2 Tracker Grumman Aircraft Formerly S2F
S-3 Viking
Shadow
Lockheed Corporation  

Attack

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/notable variants
A-1 Skyraider Douglas (formerly designated AD)
A-2 Savage North American (formerly designated AJ)
A-3 Skywarrior Douglas (formerly designated A3D)
A-4 Skyhawk Douglas (formerly designated A4D)
A-5 Vigilante North American (formerly designated A3J)
A-6 Intruder Grumman (formerly designated A2F)
A-7 Corsair II Ling-Temco-Vought
A-9 Northrop Losing contender for the AX competition
A-10 Thunderbolt II Fairchild Republic Winning contender for the AX competition
A-12 Avenger II McDonnell Douglas / General Dynamics cancelled
F/A-18C/D Hornet McDonnell Douglas [10]
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Boeing [10]
A-26 Invader Douglas (redesignated back to WW II-era designation, from B-26 in 1966)
A-29 Super Tucano Embraer
A-37 Dragonfly Cessna (originally designated AT-37)

Bomber

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
B-1 Lancer Rockwell International  
B-2 Spirit
"Stealth Bomber"
Northrop Grumman  

Cargo

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable variants
C-1 Trader Grumman (formerly designated TF)
C-2 Greyhound Grumman
C-3 Martin 4-0-4 Martin (formerly designated RM-1Z) Martin 4-0-4 airliners for use by the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard
C-4 Academe Gulfstream Used for training A-6 Intruder Naval Flight Officers.
C-5 Galaxy Lockheed
C-6 Ute Beechcraft Beechcraft 90 King Air, re-designated U-21 Ute
C-7 Caribou de Havilland Canada
C-8 Buffalo de Havilland Canada
C-9 Nightingale McDonnell-Douglas
C-10 Jetstream Handley Page USAF 68-10378/10388 (were to be offset purchase for RAF F-111K – both cancelled)
C-10 McDonnell-Douglas Winner of the KC-X competition (after cancellation of C-10 Jetstream, C-10 designation re-used)
C-11 Gulfstream II Gulfstream
C-12 Beechcraft
C-14 Boeing AMST contender
C-15 McDonnell-Douglas AMST contender
C-17 Globemaster III Boeing
C-18 Boeing 707–320 Boeing
C-19 Boeing 747–100 Boeing
C-20 Gulfstream III Gulfstream C-20A / B / C / D / E
C-20 Gulfstream IV Gulfstream C-20F / G / H / J
C-21 Learjet 35 Learjet
C-22 Boeing 727 Boeing Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau personnel transports
C-23 Sherpa Shorts Military logistics transports for use in Europe and the US by the US Air Force and US Army
C-24 DC-8F-54 Douglas A single DC-8-54F used for avionic trials as the EC-24A
C-25 Boeing 747-200 Boeing Presidential VIP transport
C-26 Fairchild
C-27 Spartan Alenia
C-28 Titan Cessna
C-29 B Ae 125-800 British Aerospace Airways and navaid checker
C-32 Boeing 757-200 Boeing VIP transport
C-35 Cessna
C-37 Gulfstream V Gulfstream
C-38 Gulfstream G100 Gulfstream (formerly IAI Astra SPX)
C-40 Boeing 737-700c Boeing (replacement for the C-9A Nightingale in USAF and C-9B Skytrain II in USN)
C-41 C-212 series 200 Aviocar Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA [3]
C-45 EADS Losing K-X contender[3]
C-46 Boeing Winner of the K-X competition over the EADS KC-45
KC-767 Boeing Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- Multi-Role Tanker Transports exported to Japan and Italy[3]
UC-880 Convair Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- A single Convair 880 converted to tanker to support trials from the NATC at Patuxent River[11]

Drone

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
Q-1 Predator
Warrior
General Atomics [3]
MQ-1C Warrior
Q-2 Pioneer AAI Corporation
Israel Aircraft Industries
 
Q-3 Dark Star Lockheed Martin
Boeing
 
Q-4 Global Hawk Northrop Grumman  
Q-5 Hunter Israel Aircraft Industries  
Q-6 Outrider Alliant Techsystems  
Q-7 Shadow AAI Corporation  
Q-8 Fire Scout Northrop Grumman  
Q-9 Reaper
Altair
General Atomics Originally "Predator B"
Q-10 SnowGoose MMIST  
Q-11 Raven AeroVironment  
Q-12 Requested for Q-1CSkipped
Q-13 Skipped
Q-14 Dragon Eye AeroVironment  
Q-15 Neptune DRS Technologies  
Q-16 T-Hawk Honeywell  
Q-17 SpyHawk MTC Technologies  
Q-18 Hummingbird Boeing  
Q-19 Aerosonde AAI Corporation [3]
Q-20 Puma AeroVironment
Q-21 Integrator Boeing Insitu
Non-sequential designations
Q-170 Sentinel Lockheed Martin  

Electronic Warfare

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
E-1 Tracer Grumman Aircraft Formerly WF
E-2 Hawkeye Grumman Aircraft Formerly W2F
E-3 Sentry Boeing  
E-4 "Nightwatch" Boeing  
E-5 Eagle Windecker Industries  
E-6 Mercury Boeing TACAMO
E-7 Designation proposed for EC-18B
E-8 Joint STARS Northrop Grumman  
E-9 Widget de Havilland Canada  
E-10 MC2A Boeing
Northrop Grumman
 
E-11 Bombardier
Northrop Grumman
Battlefield Airborne Communications Node platform
E-767 Boeing Out of sequence designation used for foreign military sales and trials aircraft:- AEW&C aircraft for the Japanese Self-Defence Forces[3]

Experimental, 1948–present

In addition to aircraft intended to support military operations, the armed forces of the United States have also supported efforts to push the boundaries of aeronautical and aerospace knowledge. Some of the best-known of these projects are the aircraft designated in the "X-series", which led them to become known as "X-planes".

Name Manufacturer
Agency
Image Maiden flight Notes/Notable Variants
X-1 Bell Aircraft
USAF, NACA
January 19, 1946 High-speed and high-altitude testing.
First aircraft to break the sound barrier.
Proved aerodynamic viability of thin wing sections.[12]
X-2
"Starbuster"
Bell Aircraft
USAF
June 27, 1952 High-speed and high-altitude testing.
First aircraft to exceed Mach 3.[13]
X-3
Stiletto
Douglas Aircraft
USAF, NACA
October 27, 1952 Titanium alloy construction; low aspect ratio wings.
Planned to test long-duration high-speed flight.
Incapable of reaching design speed, but Provided insights into inertia coupling.[14]
X-4
Bantam
Northrop
USAF, NACA
December 15, 1948 Evaluated handling characteristics of tailless aircraft in the transonic speed region.[15]
X-5 Bell Aircraft
USAF, NACA
June 20, 1951 First aircraft to fly with Variable-sweep wing wings.[16] (many other aircraft had previously flown with variable geometry wings, but none with variable sweep wings)
X-6 Convair
USAF, AEC
Not flown Modified Convair B-36 for study of Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion; not built.
NB-36H testbed tested reactor.[17]
X-7
"Flying Stove Pipe"
Lockheed
Tri-service
April 1951 High-speed testbed for ramjet engines.[18]
X-8
Aerobee
Aerojet
NACA, USAF, USN
Upper air research vehicle and sounding rocket.[19]
X-9
Shrike
Bell Aircraft
USAF
April 1949 Guidance and propulsion technology testbed.
Assisted development of GAM-63 Rascal missile.[20]
X-10 North American Aviation
USAF
October 13, 1953 Testbed for SM-64 Navajo missile.[21]
X-11 Convair
USAF
June 11, 1957 Testbed for SM-65 Atlas missile.[22]
X-12 Convair
USAF
July, 1958 Advanced testbed for SM-65 Atlas missile.[23]
X-13
Vertijet
Ryan Aeronautical
USAF, USN
December 10, 1955 Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) testbed.
Evaluated tailsitting configuration for VTOL flight.[24]
X-14 Bell Aircraft
USAF, NASA
February 19, 1957 VTOL testbed.
Examined the vectored thrust configuration for VTOL flight.[25]
X-15 North American Aviation
USAF, NASA
June 8, 1959 Hypersonic (Mach 6), high-altitude (350,000 feet (110,000 m)) testing.
First manned hypersonic aircraft; capable of suborbital spaceflight.[26]
X-16 Bell Aircraft
USAF
Never flew High-altitude reconnaissance aircraft project.[27]
"X-16" designation used as cover story.[28]
X-17 Lockheed
USAF, USN
April 1956 Tested the effects of high Mach number reentry.[29]
X-18 Hiller Aircraft
USAF, USN
November 24, 1959 VTOL/Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) testbed.
Evaluated the tiltwing concept for VTOL flight.[30]
X-19 Curtiss-Wright
Tri-service
November 1963 Tandem tiltrotor VTOL transport testbed.[31]
XC-143 designation proposed.[32]
X-20
Dyna-Soar
Boeing
USAF
Never built Reusable spaceplane for military missions.[33]
X-21 Northrop
USAF
April 18, 1963 Boundary layer control testbed.[34]
X-22 Bell Aircraft
Tri-service
March 17, 1966 Quad ducted fan tiltrotor STOVL testbed.[35]
X-23
PRIME
Martin Marietta
USAF
December 21, 1966 Maneuvering atmospheric reentry effects testbed.[36]
Note: Designation never officially assigned.[37]
X-24 Martin Marietta
USAF, NASA

August 1, 1973 Low-speed lifting body handling testbed.
Lifting body aerodynamic shape trials.[38]
X-25 Bensen
USAF
December 6, 1955 Light autogyro for emergency use by downed pilots.[39]
X-26
Frigate
Schweizer
DARPA, US Army, USN

1967
Training glider for yaw-roll coupling
Quiet observation aircraft testbed.[40]
X-27 Lockheed Never flew High performance fighter prototype.[41]
X-28
Sea Skimmer
Osprey Aircraft
USN
August 12, 1970 Inexpensive aerial policing seaplane testbed.[42]
X-29 Grumman
DARPA, USAF, NASA
1984 Forward-swept wing testbed.[43]
X-30
NASP
Rockwell
NASA, DARPA, USAF
Never built Single stage to orbit spaceplane prototype.[44]
X-31 Rockwell
DARPA, USAF, BdV
1990 Thrust vectoring supermaneuverability testbed.
ESTOL testbed.[45]
X-32 Boeing
USAF, USN, RAF
September 2000 Joint Strike Fighter prototype.[46]
X-33
Venture Star
Lockheed Martin
NASA
Prototype never completed Half-scale reusable launch vehicle prototype.[47]
X-34 Orbital Sciences
NASA
Never flew Reusable unmanned spaceplane testbed.[48]
X-35 Lockheed Martin
USAF, USN, RAF
2000 Joint Strike Fighter prototype.[49]
X-36 McDonnell Douglas/Boeing
NASA
May 17, 1997 28% scale tailless fighter testbed.[50]
X-37 Boeing
USAF, NASA
April 7, 2006 (drop test)
April 22, 2010 (orbital flight)
Reusable orbital spaceplane.[51]
X-38 Scaled Composites
NASA
1999 Lifting body Crew Return Vehicle demonstrator.[52]
X-39 Unknown
USAF
Unknown Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements (FATE) program.[53]
Note: Designation never officially assigned.[37]
X-40 Boeing
USAF, NASA
August 11, 1998 80% scale Space Maneuver Vehicle testbed.
X-37 prototype.[54]
X-41 Unknown
USAF
Unknown Maneuvering re-entry vehicle.[55]
X-42 Unknown
USAF
Unknown Expendable liquid propellant upper-stage rocket.[56]
X-43
Hyper-X
Microcraft
NASA
June 2, 2001 Scramjet hypersonic testbed.[57]
X-44
MANTA
Lockheed Martin
USAF, NASA
Cancelled F-22-based Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft thrust vectoring testbed.[58]
X-45 Boeing
DARPA, USAF

May 22, 2002 Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator.[59]
X-46 Boeing
DARPA, USN
Cancelled Naval UCAV demonstrator.[60]
X-47A Pegasus
X-47B
Northrop Grumman
DARPA, USN
February 23, 2003 Naval UCAV demonstrator.[61]
X-48 Boeing
NASA
July 20, 2007 Blended Wing Body (BWB) testbed.[62]
X-49
Speedhawk
Piasecki Aircraft
US Army
July 29, 2007 Compound helicopter
Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) testbed.[3]
X-50
Dragonfly
Boeing
DARPA
24 November 2003 Canard Rotor/Wing testbed.[63]
X-51
Waverider
Boeing
USAF
26 May 2010[64] Hypersonic scramjet demonstrator.[65]
X-52 Number skipped to avoid confusion with B-52.[37]
X-53 Boeing Phantom Works
NASA, USAF
November 2002 Active Aeroelastic Wing testbed.[66]
X-54 Gulfstream Aerospace
NASA
Future Supersonic transport testbed.[3]
X-55 Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
USAF
June 2, 2009 Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA).
Molded composite fuselage and empennage testbed.[67]

Fighter

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
F-1 Fury North American (previously designated FJ-2, FJ-3 & FJ-4)
F-2 Banshee McDonnell (previously designated F2H)
F-3 Demon McDonnell (previously designated F3H)
F-4 Phantom II McDonnell Douglas (previously designated F4H and F-110)
F-5 Freedom Fighter Northrop
F-6 Skyray Douglas (previously designated F4D)
F-7 Sea Dart Convair (previously designated F2Y)
F-8 Crusader Vought (previously designated F8U)
F-9 Cougar Grumman (previously designated F9F-6)
F-10 Skyknight Douglas (previously designated F3D)
F-11 Tiger Grumman (previously designated F11F)
F-12 Lockheed Two-seat Fighter version of the A-12 reconnaissance aircraft
F-14 Tomcat Grumman
F-15 Eagle McDonnell Douglas
F-16 Fighting Falcon General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin Winning contender in the LWF contest
F-17 Cobra Northrop Losing contender in the LWF contest, developed into the F/A-18 Hornet
F-18A/B/C/D Hornet McDonnell Douglas Developed from the YF-17 as a shipboard fighter Attack aircraft
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Boeing Enlarged F/A-18 with bigger everything[3]
F-20 Tigershark Northrop The ultimate Tiger development powered by a single F404 afterburning turbofan, but no production
F-21 Kfir C-2 Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir C2 aircraft for US Navy dissimilar combat training and aggressor training
F-22 Raptor Lockheed Martin [3]
F-23 Black Widow II Northrop / McDonnell Douglas Lost out to the F-22 in competition
F-35 Lightning II Lockheed Martin Production version of the X-35, winner of the JSF competition[3]
YF-110 MiG-21s Mikoyan-Gurevich Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[68] Designation used for captured MiG-21s and new-build J-7s[69]
YF-112 Su-22 Sukhoi Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[68] – obtained from Egypt or Allegedly used for captured MiGs[69]
YF-113 MiG-23s Mikoyan-Gurevich Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[68] – Designation used for captured MiG-17s and[68][69]
YF-114 MiG-17 Mikoyan-Gurevich Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[68] – Designation used for captured MiG-17s[69]
F-117 Nighthawk Lockheed Production version of the HAVE BLUE experimental stealth aircraft
F-117D Tacit Blue TACIT BLUE A stealth experimental aircraft[69]

Note: Captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[68]

Glider

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
TG-1   Schweizer
TG-2 Schweizer
TG-3   Schweizer[71]
TG-4 Schweizer[71]
TG-5 Schweizer
TG-6 Schweizer
TG-7 Schweizer[71]
TG-8 Schweizer
TG-9 Schleicher[71]
TG-10 Let[3][71]
TG-11 Stemme[71]
TG-12 Caproni Vizzola[3]
TG-13 Skipped
TG-15 Aeromot[3]
TG-15 Schempp-Hirth[3]
TG-16 DG Flugzeugbau

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.

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
H-1 Iroquois Iroquois
Huey
Bell Helicopter 22 October 1956 Formerly H-40
Formerly HU-1
UH-1N Twin Huey
UH-1Y Venom
H-1 Cobra Cobra
SeaCobra
SuperCobra
Viper
Bell Helicopter Formerly
AH-1 Cobra
AH-1 SuperCobra
AH-1Z Viper
H-2 Seasprite Seasprite Kaman Aircraft 2 July 1959 Formerly HU2K
SH-2G Super Seasprite
H-3 Sea King Sea King
"Jolly Green Giant"
Sikorsky Aircraft 11 March 1959 Formerly HSS-2
CH-/HH-3 Sea King
H-4   Bell Helicopter 8 December 1962 Formerly HO-4
H-5   Fairchild Hiller 21 January 1963 Formerly HO-5
H-6 Cayuse Cayuse
Little Bird
Hughes Helicopters
McDonnell Douglas
Boeing Helicopters
27 February 1963 Formerly HO-6
MH-6 Little Bird
AH-6

Observation

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
O-1 Bird Dog Cessna Aircraft 14 December 1949 Formerly L-19
O-2 Skymaster Cessna Aircraft January 1967  
O-3 "Quiet Star" Lockheed Missiles & Space 1969  
O-4   Wren Aircraft   1963
(Wren 460)
Not proceeded with.
O-5 ARL de Havilland Canada 27 March 1975
(DHC-7)
Formerly RC-7
O-6 ARL Bombardier
OV-10 Bronco North American Aviation 16 July 1965  

Patrol

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
P-1 Skipped  
P-2 Neptune Lockheed Corporation 17 May 1945 Formerly P2V
P-3 Orion
ARIES
Lockheed Corporation 25 November 1959 Formerly P3V
WP-3D Orion
EP-3 Aries
P-4 Privateer Consolidated Aircraft 1943 Formerly PB4Y-2K / P4Y-2K)
P-5 Marlin Glenn L. Martin Company 30 May 1948 Formerly P5M
P-6 Skipped – presumably because of Martin P6M which was canceled a few years previously  
P-7   Lockheed Corporation   Long-Range Air ASW-Capable Aircraft
Not built
P-8 Poseidon Boeing 25 April 2009 [3]

Reconnaissance

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
R-1 Dragon Lady Lockheed Corporation August 1981  
R-2 Skipped  
R-3         Possibly assigned to a Black Project
Speculated: TR-3 Black Manta
Speculated: SR-3 Blackstar

Spaceplane

The only designation in the "Spaceplane" series, the MS-1A shares a designation letter with the anti-submarine warfare category, and is perhaps unique among MDS identifiers as being assigned to a future, and currently not wholly defined, concept, as opposed to a specific project.[3][72]

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.

Trainer, 1962, 1990–present

Despite the adoption of the unified Mission Designation System in 1962, only two aircraft were designated in the new series, both former Navy types. The old series continued in use until 1990, at which point a new series was started over at T-1, with the previous T-2 still being in use. However, the old series has still seen new designations being assigned. The next designation available in the 'T' series is T-52 or T-7, depending on which series is continued.

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
1962 Sequence
T-1 SeaStar Lockheed Corporation 15 December 1953 Formerly T2V.
T-2 Buckeye North American Aviation 31 January 1958 Formerly T2J.
1990 Sequence
T-1 Jayhawk Raytheon
Hawker Beechcraft
   
T-2 Skipped T-2 Buckeye was still in service.
T-3 Firefly Slingsby Aviation 1991  
T-4 Skipped  
T-5 Skipped  
T-6 Texan II Hawker Beechcraft July 1998 Named in honor of AT-6 Texan

Utility, 1955–present

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image Notes/Notable Variants
U-1 Otter de Havilland Canada
U-2 Dragon Lady Lockheed Corporation
U-3 Blue Canoe Cessna
U-4 Aero Commander Aero Design
U-5 Twin Courier Helio
U-6 Beaver de Havilland Canada
U-7 Super Cub Piper
U-8 Seminole Beechcraft
U-9 Aero Commander Aero Design
U-10 Super Courier Helio
U-11 Aztec Piper
U-12 Skipped
U-13 Skipped
U-14 Skipped
U-15 Skipped
U-16 Albatross Grumman
U-17 Skywagon Cessna
U-18 Navion North American/Ryan
U-19 Sentinel Stinson
U-20 Cessna
U-21 Ute Beechcraft
U-22 Beechcraft
U-23 Peacemaker Fairchild Hiller/Pilatus
U-24 Courier Helio
U-25 Guardian Dassault-Breguet
U-26 Super Skywagon Cessna
U-27 Caravan Cessna
U-28 Pilatus[3]
U-38 Twin Condor Schweizer

Vertical and Short Take-off and Landing Aircraft

Sequence Name Manufacturer Image First flight Notes/Notable Variants
V-1 Mohawk Grumman Aircraft 14 April 1959 Formerly AO-1
V-2 Caribou de Havilland Canada 30 July 1958 Formerly AC-1
Redesignated as C-7
V-3   Bell Helicopter 11 August 1955 Formerly H-33
Formerly V-3 in Convertiplane series
V-4 Hummingbird Lockheed Corporation 7 July 1962 Formerly VZ-10
V-5 Vertifan Ryan Aeronautical 25 May 1964 Formerly VZ-11
V-6 Kestrel Hawker Siddeley 7 March 1964 VZ-12 was used for the P.1127 development model, but these were never delivered. XV-6A used for the six evaluation aircraft supplied by the UK.
V-7 Buffalo de Havilland Canada 22 September 1961 Formerly AC-2
Redesignated as C-8
V-8 "Fleep" Ryan Aeronautical 1961 Designation later reused.
V-8 Harrier Hawker Siddeley

28 December 1967 AV-8B Harrier II
McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace
V-9   Hughes Helicopters 5 November 1964  
V-10 Bronco Rockwell International
Boeing
16 July 1965  
V-11 Marvel Parsons Corporation 1 December 1965  
V-12   Parsons Corporation 1961
(Turbo-Porter)
Cancelled, designation reused.
V-12   Rockwell International 1978
(tethered hover)
 
V-13 not used  
V-14 not used Skipped to avoid confusion with X-14.[73]
V-15   Bell Helicopter 3 May 1977  
V-16 Advanced Harrier McDonnell Douglas
British Aerospace
  Not built; developed into AV-8B
V-17 not used Assigned to a U.S. Army project but not used.[73]
V-18 Twin Otter de Havilland Canada 20 May 1965
(DHC-6)
 
V-19 not used Assigned to a U.S. Navy project but cancelled.[73]
V-20 Chiricahua de Havilland Canada 1979  
V-21 PACES Airship Industries 1983 Unconfirmed designation.[73]
V-22 Osprey Bell Helicopter
Boeing Helicopters
19 March 1989  
V-23 Scout Dominion Aircraft 21 April 1975
(Skytrader)
 

Un-designated foreign aircraft operated by the United States

See also

References

Citations

  1. AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, BUWEPSINST 13100.7, "Designating, Redesignating, and Naming of Military Aircraft", 18 September 1962
  2. "Lockheed B-71 (SR-71)". National Museum of the United States Air Force. October 29, 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Parsch 2009, "DOD 4120.15-L"
  4. Andrade 1979, page 60
  5. "HazeGray.org". rec.aviation.military FAQ, Part 4. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  6. Andrade 1979, p. 162
  7. "Photo essay: Flight of a T-52A" U.S. Air Force.
  8. Chorney, Andrew. Systems of Designation, U.S. Army Aircraft, 1956–1962 System. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. 1 2 Officially, the F/A-18 is designated in both the A-for-attack and F-for-fighter series.
  11. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations 1911–2004
  12. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 5–7.
  13. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 8.
  14. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 9.
  15. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 10.
  16. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 11.
  17. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 12.
  18. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 13.
  19. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 14.
  20. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 15.
  21. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 16.
  22. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 17.
  23. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 18.
  24. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 19.
  25. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 20.
  26. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 21–22.
  27. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 23.
  28. "X-16". globalsecurity.org, accessed 11 May 2010.
  29. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 24.
  30. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 25.
  31. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 26.
  32. Baugher 2007
  33. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 27.
  34. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 28.
  35. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 29.
  36. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 30.
  37. 1 2 3 Parsch 2009, "Missing Designations"
  38. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 31–32.
  39. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 33.
  40. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 34.
  41. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 35.
  42. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 36.
  43. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 37.
  44. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 38.
  45. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 39.
  46. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, pp. 40–41.
  47. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 42.
  48. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 43.
  49. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 44-45.
  50. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 46.
  51. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 47.
  52. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 48.
  53. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 49.
  54. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 50.
  55. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 51.
  56. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 52.
  57. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 53.
  58. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 54.
  59. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 55.
  60. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 56.
  61. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 57.
  62. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 58.
  63. Jenkins, Landis and Miller 2003, p. 60.
  64. "X-51 Waverider makes historic hypersonic flight". US AIr Force Public Affairs. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 Jul 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  65. "X-51 Scramjet Engine Demonstrator – WaveRider" globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  66. Jordan 2006
  67. Kaufman 2009
  68. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fulghum, David A., "MiGs in Nevada", Aviation Week & Space Technology, November 27, 2006
  69. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Parsch, Andreas (2006-11-27). "Cover Designations for Classified USAF Aircraft". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  70. "Edwards AFB website". Col. Joseph A. Lanni, USAF biography. Archived from the original on 2005-03-18. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
  71. 1 2 3 4 5 6 94th Flying Training Squadron aircraft
  72. MS-1A, GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  73. 1 2 3 4 Parsch, Andreas. ""Missing" USAF/DOD Aircraft Designations". Designation-Systems.Net. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  74. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Office of History, Headquarters Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe: Installations and USAAF Combat Units in the United Kingdom 1942–1945, Revised and Expanded Edition. October 1980; reprinted February 1985
  75. Baugher, Joseph F. 1930–1937 USAAS Serial Numbers

Sources

Books

External links

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