U.S. Military Aircraft Database
Tri-Service 1963 to Present
In 1963, all of the U.S. military services were required to use a new tri-service system. This was based on the 1924 Army system, but partly incorporated U.S. Navy numbering. Most Air Force types retained their existing designations, but new designs were designated in the tri-service system.
All Navy aircraft were redesignated in this new system. For a short period, both the pre-1963 and tri-service system designations were shown on some aircraft. Some aircraft, particularly transports, trainers, and helicopters that were also used by the Air Force, were redesignated in the Air Force 1925 system. These aircraft are found in the appropriate Army/Air Force files such as C.xls, H.xls, and T.xls. New types were all to be given designations in the new tri-service system. This has not always been followed, particularly in the case of helicopters and trainers. Some Navy dirigibles were redesignated in the tri-service system even though Navy lighter-than-air operations ceased in 1961. The short-lived dirigible of the 1980s followed these.
Aircraft Type Letters
|
A |
Tactical support |
|
B |
Bomber |
|
C |
Transport |
|
E |
Electronic surveillance |
|
F |
Fighter |
|
G |
Glider |
|
H |
Helicopter |
|
L |
Laser |
|
O |
Observation |
|
P |
Patrol |
|
Q |
RPV |
|
R |
Reconnaissance |
|
S |
Anti-submarine |
|
T |
Trainer |
|
U |
Utility |
|
V |
V/STOL |
|
Z |
Airship |
Aircraft Function and Status Prefixes
|
A |
Tactical support |
1963 to date |
|
B |
Bomber |
1963 to date |
|
C |
Transport |
1943 to date |
|
D |
Drone director |
1948 to date |
|
E |
Electronics |
1948 to date |
|
F |
Fighter |
1948 to date |
|
G |
Permanantly grounded |
1963 to date |
|
H |
Search and rescue |
1963 to date |
|
J |
Temporary special test |
1956 to date |
|
K |
Tanker |
1949 to date |
|
L |
Winterized |
1963 to date |
|
M |
Missile carrier |
1963 to ? |
|
Multi-mission |
? to date |
|
|
N |
Permanent special test |
1956 to date |
|
O |
Observation |
1963 to date |
|
Q |
Radio-controlled drone |
1948 to date |
|
R |
Reconnaissance |
1948 to date |
|
S |
Anti-submarine |
1963 to date |
|
T |
Trainer |
1943 to date |
|
U |
Utility |
1941 to date |
|
V |
Staff transport |
1945 to date |
|
W |
Weather reconnaissance |
1948 to date |
|
Y |
Service test |
1928 to date |
|
Z |
Project |
1963 to date |
Rocket and Missile Types
|
B |
Booster |
|
M |
Missile |
|
N |
Probe |
|
R |
Rocket |
|
S |
Satellite |
Missile First Letter (Launch Environment)
|
A |
Air launched |
|
B |
Multiple |
|
C |
Coffin (semi-hard) launcher |
|
F |
Individual |
|
G |
Ground launched |
|
H |
Hard silo stored |
|
L |
Hard silo launched |
|
M |
Mobile launcher |
|
P |
Soft pad launch |
|
R |
Surface ship launched |
|
S |
Space |
|
U |
Underwater |
|
C |
Transport |
|
D |
Decoy |
|
E |
Electronics |
|
G |
Ground attack |
|
I |
Interception |
|
L |
Launch detection |
|
M |
Scientific calibration |
|
N |
Navigation |
|
Q |
Pilotless drone |
|
S |
Space operation support |
|
T |
Training |
|
U |
Underwater attack |
|
W |
Weather |
Missile Status Prefix Letters
|
C |
Captive |
|
D |
Dummy |
|
J |
Temporary special test |
|
M |
Maintenance (now obsolete) |
|
N |
Permanent special test |
|
X |
Experimental |
|
Y |
Service test |
|
Z |
Project |
10/30/08