Japanese Military Aircraft Designations (after 1945)
Copyright © 2001-2004 Andreas
Parsch
1 Japanese
Aircraft Designation System
2 Designation
Listing
3 Missiles
4 Serial
Number System
Japan designates
its aircraft in a way very similar to the U.S. A type letter designating the
primary mission of the aircraft is followed by a sequential number. The following
type letters are used:
Only types of
Japanese origin receive designations in the appropriate sequence. Others use
either the orginal U.S. designation, the
manufacturer's designation, or a designation composed of a type letter and a
number derived from the manufacturer's designation. Examples for the latter are
the U-4 (Gulfstream IV) and U-36A (Learjet 36).
The type
letters can also be used as prefixes to indicate a modified mission.
This listing
contains only Japanese aircraft, which get numbers in the proper sequence.
C - Cargo
F - Fighter
H -
Helicopter
S - Search
& Rescue
T - Trainer
The Japanese
Military uses a very simple designation system for indegeniuos
missiles. A 3-letter indicator for the missile type is followed by a sequential
number. Each missile type uses its own sequence. Type designators are:
When entering
operational service, most missiles get an additional "Type nn" designation, with nn
being the last two digits of the year when the missile entered service (e.g.
"Type 90" for the AAM-3, which became operational in 1990). These
type designations are often used instead of the xxM
numbers. Anti-tank missiles also have a "KAM" industrial designation.
[This section
was contributed by Jos Heyman.]
Aircraft of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force
(JASDF) carry a six digit serial, such as Lockheed Hercules 45-1073. In this
serial
JASDF Type
Digits
JASDF Role
Digits
The aircraft of the Japanese Marine Self Defense
Force (JMSDF) carry a four digital serial, such as Grumman UF-2 Albatross 9051.
In this serial
JMSDF Role
Digits
Aircraft of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force
(JGSDF) carry a five digit serial numbers on the nose and the last four digits
preceded by JG- on the tail, such as 41501 (JG-1501), a Fuji-Bell UH-1B. In
this serial
JGSDF Role
Digits
Comments and
corrections to: Andreas Parsch
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Last Updated:
16 March 2004