Current Designations of
Copyright © 2000-2005 Andreas
Parsch
2.1 Missiles,
Drones and UAVs
2.2 Rockets
2.3 Probes
2.4 Boosters
2.5 Satellites
3 Sources
In 1963, the current
joint designation system for all
Each vehicle is
designated by a letter/number combination as follows:
|
Examples: |
Y |
A |
I |
M |
- |
120 |
C |
|
AMRAAM |
|
|
Z |
B |
Q |
M |
- |
90 |
A |
|
|
|
|
|
M |
G |
R |
- |
1 |
A |
|
Honest
John |
|
|
|
A |
S |
B |
- |
11 |
A |
|
Pegasus |
|
|
|
|
N |
S |
- |
7 |
D |
|
NavStar |
|
|
(6) |
(3) |
(2) |
(1) |
|
(4) |
(5) |
|
(7) |
The letter (1) defines
the type of vehicle:
Letter (2) is the purpose
of the vehicle (see note
4):
Letter (3) is the launch
environment of the vehicle (see note
5, note
6):
(4) is
a model number. Each vehicle type uses its own numbering sequence, starting
from 1. It is possible, that multiple versions of a missile for different
purposes and/or with different launch options exist. These versions would use
the some model number with different letter combinations. An example for this
is the LTV Regulus II missile: RGM-15A
is the ship-launched ground-attack missile, MQM-15A is
a ground-launched drone version.
Suffix letter (5) denotes
a specific version of the vehicle. The first version (including prototypes)
uses the suffix "A", the second version uses
"B", etc.
Minor modifications or slightly differing sub-variants are sometimes indicated
by additional suffix numbers, e.g. AIM-9J-2.
Letter (6) is an optional
status prefix:
(7) Most missiles receive
a "popular name" or acronym very early in the planning or development
phase. While the name is not part of the official designations, many missiles
are almost exclusively referenced by their name, both in the popular press and
in official government news releases and documents.
Notes:
1.
While "B" and "S" designations are assigned to (some)
vehicles, I have never seen any of these designations outside the DOD 4120.15-L
document. Also, some of the latest launch vehicles, e.g. the Atlas V and
Delta 4, have apparently not (yet?) received a "B"
designation. So my impression is that the
2.
The "Q" purpose letter used to be assigned for both target drones and
recoverable UAVs. However, in 1997 a Q-for-UAV
vehicle type letter was introduced in the designation system for manned
aircraft, and since then the letter "Q" in the missile designation
system is limited to targets.
3.
The original regulation (1963) explicitly excluded line-of-sight ground-attack
rockets from the designation system. Although this is no longer explicitly
stated in the current definition, it is still common practice not to assign
standard designations to these types of rockets (see list of undesignated
rockets).
4.
It is interesting to note that there is no purpose designator letter for
"Experimental". This means that purely experimental vehicles (other
than prototypes of operational vehicles) are not intended to receive standard
designations. There is also no designator for "Reconnaissance",
although this is definitely a useful purpose for unmanned vehicles. Until the
1990s, reconnaissance UAVs were
designated xQM-n (i.e. the same as
target drones), while new recce UAVs
are nowadays designated RQ-n (see note
2 above). Reconnaissance satellites, on the other hand, do not receive any
standard designations, presumably because they are classified anyway.
5.
Designations for satellites and ground-launched boosters do not use the launch
environment letter. While this is no surprise for satellites, a "P"
or "G" launch environment letter would certainly be appropriate for
ground launched space boosters like Atlas, Titan et. al.
6.
The original regulation (1963) allowed the omission of the launch environment
letter, if a status prefix letter was used. This option has since been removed,
resulting in a few redesignations (like YQM-94A to
YGQM-94A).
7.
The "B" launch environment letter should only be used, if the missile
is essentially unmodified for the different launch options. If several variants
of a missile exist for different launch environments, these variants should
receive different designations (e.g. air-launched AGM-84A and
submarine-launched UGM-84A).
8.
The "G" launch environment letter should only be used, if none of the
other letters for ground launched vehicles ("C", "F",
"H", "L", "M" and "P") can be applied.
As a result, "G" is rarely used.
9.
The "Z" prefix was intended to be used to refer to a vehicle, which
is still in the planning stage. However, this is very rarely done. Instead,
most vehicles do not receive a formal designation until prototype development
has started, in which case an "X" or "Y" prefix is
appropriate. If a new vehicle is really designated in the pre-development
phase, the "Z" prefix is almost always omitted.
For each vehicle type, a
list of assigned designations is provided (ellipses in suffix letters denote
all letters in between, excluding I and O). For most vehicles, only the
manufacturer and the popular name is given. This
should provide a useful reference in most cases. Only for vehicles without a
name, or for some "less known" vehicles (i.e. not normally found in
standard sources) are a few details given. The link in the left column leads to
the corresponding page in the Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles,
which includes more information about the missile, like one or more photos and
reference to the major differences between the variants. A link in the
"Previous Designations" column will point to an explanation of the
system, under which the designation was assigned.
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
Previous
Designations |
|
Martin |
Matador |
||
|
RIM-2A/.../F |
General
Dynamics (Convair) |
Terrier |
SAM-N-7
(RIM-2A/.../E) |
|
Western
Electric |
Nike
|
||
|
AIM-4A/.../H |
Hughes |
Falcon |
F-98,
GAR-1
(AIM-4A) |
|
MGM-5A/B |
JPL/Firestone |
Corporal |
|
|
RGM-6A/B |
Vought |
Regulus |
|
|
AIM-7A/.../G/M/N/P/R |
Raytheon |
Sparrow (AIM-7) |
AAM-N-2
(AIM-7A) |
|
RIM-8A/.../G/J |
Bendix |
Talos (RIM/RGM-8) |
SAM-N-6
(RIM-8A/.../F) |
|
AIM-9A/.../S/X |
Raytheon
(NWC/Philco/General Electric) |
Sidewinder |
|
|
CIM-10A/B |
Boeing |
Bomarc |
|
|
PGM-11A |
Chrysler |
Redstone |
|
|
AGM-12A/.../E |
Martin |
Bullpup |
|
|
MGM-13A/B |
Martin |
Mace |
TM-76
(MGM-13A/B, CGM-13C) |
|
MIM-14A/B/C |
Western
Electric |
Nike
Hercules |
|
|
RGM-15A |
Vought |
Regulus II |
|
|
CGM-16D/E |
General
Dynamics (Convair) |
Atlas |
B-65,
SM-65A/B/C |
|
PGM-17A |
|
Thor |
|
|
Martin |
Lacrosse |
||
|
Chrysler |
Jupiter |
||
|
ADM-20A/B/C |
McDonnell |
Quail |
|
|
Nord |
(Model
SS.10) |
|
|
|
AGM-22A/B |
Aérospatiale (Nord) |
(Model
SS.11/AS.11) |
|
|
MIM-23A/.../M |
Raytheon |
Hawk |
|
|
RIM-24A/B/C |
General
Dynamics (Convair) |
Tartar |
Mk 15
(see note
1) (RIM-24A/B) |
|
HGM-25A |
Martin |
Titan |
|
|
AIM-26A/B |
Hughes |
Nuclear
Falcon |
|
|
UGM-27A/B/C |
Lockheed |
Polaris A1/A2/A3 |
|
|
AGM-28A/B/C |
North
American |
Hound
Dog |
GAM-77
(AGM-28A/B) |
|
Sperry/JPL |
Sergeant |
||
|
LGM-30A/B/F/G |
Boeing |
Minuteman |
HSM-80
(LGM-30A/B/F) |
|
MGM-31A/B/C |
Martin
Marietta |
Pershing |
|
|
Aérospatiale (Nord) |
Entac (Engin Téléguidé
Anti-Char = Remotely Guided Anti-Tank Missile) |
|
|
|
MQM-33A/B/C/D |
Northrop
(Radioplane) |
|
OQ-19
(MQM-33A/B) |
|
BQM-34A/E/F/S/T |
Teledyne
Ryan |
Firebee |
|
|
AQM-35A/B |
Northrop
(Radioplane)/Bendix |
(see note
2) |
|
|
Northrop
(Radioplane) |
Shelduck |
||
|
AQM-37A/B/C/D |
Beech |
(Model
1019) |
|
|
AQM-38A/B |
Northrop
(Radioplane) |
(Model
RP-76/78) |
|
|
Beech |
(Model
1001) |
||
|
Globe |
Firefly |
||
|
Bureau
of Standards/Fairchild |
Petrel (drone version) |
||
|
North
American |
Redhead/Roadrunner |
|
|
|
FIM-43A/B/C/D |
General
Dynamics |
Redeye |
M41,
XMIM-43 (FIM-43A/B) |
|
Goodyear |
Subroc |
Mk 28 |
|
|
AGM-45A/B |
|
Shrike |
ASM-N-10
(AGM-45A) |
|
XMIM-46A |
General
Dynamics |
Mauler (MIM-46) |
|
|
AIM-47A/B |
Hughes |
Falcon |
|
|
XAGM-48A |
|
Skybolt |
|
|
Western
Electric/McDonnell-Douglas |
Nike
Zeus B (XLIM-49A) |
|
|
|
Bendix |
Typhon LR |
||
|
MGM-51A/B/C |
Ford |
Shillelagh |
M13
(MGM-51A) |
|
MGM-52A/B/C |
LTV |
Lance |
|
|
AGM-53A/B |
Rockwell |
Condor |
ASM-N-11
(AGM-53A) |
|
AIM-54A/B/C |
Raytheon
(Hughes) |
|
AAM-N-11
(AIM-54A) |
|
Bendix |
Typhon MR |
||
|
Nord/Bell |
(CT.41
ramjet-powered supersonic target) |
|
|
|
MQM-57A/B |
Northrop
(Radioplane) |
Falconer (similar to MQM-33/36) |
|
|
Aerojet General |
Overseer |
||
|
ZRGM-59A |
APL |
Taurus
LFSW (Landing
Force Support Weapon; cancelled) |
|
|
Lockheed |
Kingfisher (modified X-7) |
||
|
Beech |
Cardinal (similar to MQM-39) |
|
|
|
Martin
Marietta |
Walleye |
|
|
|
ZAGM-63A |
- |
(Navy
project for anti-radiation missile; cancelled) |
|
|
XAGM-64A |
Rockwell
(North American) |
Hornet (USAF project; cancelled) |
|
|
AGM-65A/.../K |
Raytheon
(Hughes) |
Maverick |
|
|
RIM-66A/.../E/G/.../M |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
Standard
SM-1/2 MR ( |
|
|
RIM-67A/.../D |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
Standard
SM-1/2 ER
(Extended range) |
|
|
ZAIM-68A |
Air
Force Weapons Lab |
Big
Q (cancelled
USAF project; see note
6) |
|
|
AGM-69A/B |
Boeing |
SRAM ( |
|
|
Boeing |
Minuteman
ERCS (Emergency
Rocket Communications System) (see note
7) |
|
|
|
BGM-71A/.../H |
Raytheon
(Hughes) |
TOW (Tube-launched, Optically
tracked, Wire guided) |
|
|
MIM-72A/.../J |
Ford |
Chaparral (modified AIM-9) |
|
|
Lockheed |
Poseidon C3 |
|
|
|
MQM-74A/B/C |
Northrop |
Chukar |
|
|
ZBGM-75A |
- |
AICBM (Advanced ICBM; cancelled USAF
project WS-120A) |
|
|
XAGM-76A |
Hughes |
Falcon (air-to-ground derivative of AIM-47;
cancelled) |
|
|
FGM-77A/B |
McDonnell-Douglas |
Dragon |
|
|
AGM-78A/B/C/D |
General
Dynamics |
Standard
ARM |
|
|
XAGM-79A |
Martin
Marietta |
Blue
Eye (TV guided
derivative of AGM-12; cancelled USAF project) |
|
|
XAGM-80A |
Chrysler |
Viper (derivative of AGM-12
with inertial guidance; cancelled USAF project) |
|
|
AQM-81A/B |
Teledyne
Ryan |
Firebolt |
|
|
ZAIM-82A |
- |
(1969/1970
USAF design study for advanced short-range AAM for F-15 aircraft; cancelled
in favour of AIM-95) |
|
|
AGM-83A |
|
Bulldog (laser-guided derivative of AGM-12;
cancelled Navy project) |
|
|
AGM-84A/.../H/K/L |
Boeing
(McDonnell-Douglas) |
Harpoon |
|
|
ZRIM-85A |
- |
(Navy
project for medium-range SAM; cancelled) |
|
|
AGM-86A/B/C/D |
Boeing |
ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile) |
|
|
General
Electric |
Focus (AIM-9B derivative) |
|
|
|
AGM-88A/.../E |
Raytheon
( |
HARM (High-Speed Anti-Radiation
missile) |
|
|
ZUGM-89A |
- |
Perseus (cancelled Navy project) |
|
|
ZBQM-90A |
- |
(Navy
project for high-speed high-altitude target; cancelled) |
|
|
Teledyne
Ryan |
Firefly (UAV for Compass Arrow
program) |
|
|
|
FIM-92A/.../H |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
Stinger |
|
|
E-Systems |
(Model
L450F UAV for Compass Dwell program) |
|
|
|
Boeing |
B-Gull (UAV for Compass Cope
program) |
|
|
|
Hughes |
Agile (Navy project; cancelled) |
|
|
|
Lockheed |
Trident
I C4 |
|
|
|
XAIM-97A |
General
Dynamics |
Seekbat (USAF project; cancelled) |
|
|
Teledyne
Ryan |
R-Tern (UAV for Compass Cope
program) |
|
|
|
XLIM-99A |
? |
(I have
no details; see note
9) |
|
|
XLIM-100A |
? |
(I have
no details; see note
9) |
|
|
- |
(Navy
project; see note
10) |
|
|
|
PQM-102A/B |
General
Dynamics (Convair)/Sperry |
Delta
Dagger (F-102
modified as target drone; see note
11) |
|
|
Teledyne
Ryan |
Firebee (modified Model 147G; similar to AQM-34) |
|
|
|
MIM-104A/.../E |
Raytheon |
Patriot |
|
|
YMQM-105A |
Lockheed |
|
|
|
XBQM-106A/B/C |
USAF
FDL |
Teleplane (experimental UAV) |
|
|
MQM-107A/.../E |
Raytheon
(Beech) |
Streaker |
|
|
XBQM-108A |
NWC |
(Navy
VATOL (Vertical Attitude Take-Off & Landing) project) |
|
|
BGM-109A/.../G (see note
12) |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
Tomahawk |
|
|
YBGM-110A/B |
LTV |
(unsuccessful
competitor to BGM-109) |
|
|
ZBQM-111A |
Teledyne
Ryan |
Firebrand (Navy target; cancelled) |
|
|
AGM-112A/B |
Rockwell |
(unpowered guided bomb; redesignated
as GBU-15(V)/B) |
|
|
XRIM-113A |
- |
(cancelled
Navy project for Anti-Cruise-Missile missile) |
|
|
AGM-114A/.../P |
Boeing/Lockheed
Martin (Rockwell/Martin |
Hellfire |
|
|
XMIM-115A |
Euromissile/Hughes/Boeing |
Roland |
|
|
RIM-116A/B |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) |
|
|
FQM-117A/B/C |
RS
Systems |
RCMAT (Radio-Controlled Miniature
Aerial Target; see note
13) |
|
|
Martin
Marietta |
Peacekeeper (often referred to as
"MX" ICBM) |
|
|
|
AGM-119A/B |
Kongsberg |
Penguin |
|
|
AIM-120A/B/C/D |
Raytheon
(Hughes) |
AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range
Air-to-Air Missile) |
|
|
YCQM-121A |
Boeing |
Pave Tiger (YCQM-121A) |
|
|
AGM-122A/B |
Motorola |
Sidearm (obsolete AIM-9C
modified as anti-radiation missiles) |
|
|
AGM-123A/B |
Emerson
Electric |
Skipper
II (GBU-16/B
Paveway II glide bomb fitted with a
rocket motor) |
|
|
Hughes |
Wasp (USAF anti-tank mini-missile;
cancelled) |
|
|
|
RUM-125A/B |
Boeing |
Sea
Lance ASWSOW
(Anti-Submarine Warfare Stand-Off Weapon; cancelled) |
|
|
Beech |
(Model
997 target; cancelled) |
|
|
|
YAQM-127A |
Martin
Marietta |
SLAT (Supersonic Low-Altitude
Target; cancelled Navy project) |
|
|
YAQM-128A |
- |
(subscale
aerial target missile for Navy; cancelled) |
|
|
AGM-129A/B |
Raytheon
(General Dynamics) |
ACM (Advanced Cruise Missile) |
|
|
AGM-130A/B/C/D |
Boeing
(Rockwell) |
(GBU-15(V)/B
glide bomb fitted with a rocket motor) |
|
|
AGM-131A/B |
Boeing |
SRAM
II (Short-Range
Attack Missile II; cancelled) (AGM-131A) |
|
|
MBDA (BAe Dynamics/Matra) |
ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range
Air-to-Air Missile) |
|
|
|
Lockheed
Martin |
Trident
II D5 |
|
|
|
XMGM-134A |
Martin
Marietta |
Midgetman SICBM (Small ICBM; cancelled) |
|
|
Vought |
ASAT (Anti-Satellite missile) |
|
|
|
AGM-136A |
Northrop |
Tacit Rainbow (cancelled anti-radar cruise missile) |
|
|
AGM-137A |
Northrop |
TSSAM (Tri-Service Standoff Attack
Missile; cancelled) |
|
|
YCEM-138A |
Boeing |
Pave Cricket (ECM drone similar to YCGM-121B) |
|
|
RUM-139A/B/C |
Lockheed
Martin (Loral) |
VL-Asroc (Vertical Launch - Anti-Submarine Rocket) |
|
|
MGM-140A/.../F |
Lockheed
Martin (LTV) |
ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) |
|
|
ADM-141A/B/C |
IMI ( |
TALD (Tactical Air-Launched Decoy;
see note
16) |
|
|
AGM-142A/.../H |
Rafael/Lockheed
Martin |
Have Nap (original Isreali name is Popeye) |
|
|
Continental
RPVs |
(1/5th
scale target model of MIG-27) |
|
|
|
- |
(designation
reserved but most probably not used; I have no further details) |
|
|
|
Teledyne
Ryan |
Peregrine (JUAV-MR; Joint UAV - |
|
|
|
MIM-146A |
Oerlikon/Lockheed Martin |
ADATS (Air-Defense Anti-Tank System) |
|
|
BAI Aerosystems |
Exdrone UAV |
|
|
|
FGM-148A/B/C/D |
Raytheon/Lockheed
Martin |
Javelin
AAWS-M (Advanced
Anti-Tank Weapon System - Medium) |
|
|
YPQM-149A |
McDonnell-Douglas |
UAV-SR ( |
|
|
YPQM-150A |
|
||
|
AeroVironment |
Pointer UAV |
|
|
|
YAIM-152A |
- |
AAAM (Advanced Air-to-Air Missile;
cancelled Navy project) |
|
|
XAGM-153A/B |
- |
(1992
USAF requirement for tactical standoff air-to-ground missile; cancelled) |
|
|
Raytheon
( |
JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon) |
|
|
|
TRW/IAI |
Hunter UAV (has since been redesignated as RQ-5A) |
|
|
|
RIM-156A/B |
Raytheon |
Standard
SM-2ER Block IV
(derivative of RIM-67) |
|
|
YMGM-157A/B |
Raytheon |
EFOGM (Enhanced Fiber-Optical Guided
Missile) |
|
|
AGM-158A/B |
Lockheed
Martin |
JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off
Missile) |
|
|
Boeing
(McDonnell-Douglas) |
JASSM (unsuccessful competitor to AGM-158A) |
|
|
|
ADM-160A/B |
Northrop
Grumman (Teledyne Ryan) |
MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) |
|
|
Raytheon |
Standard
SM-3 |
|
|
|
RIM-162A/B/C/D |
Raytheon |
ESSM (Evolved Sea-Sparrow Missile) |
|
|
Orbital
Sciences |
Coyote
SSST
(Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target) |
|
|
|
Lockheed
Martin |
ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System)
Block II |
|
|
|
Raytheon |
LASM (Land Attack Standard Missile) |
|
|
|
Lockheed
Martin |
LOSAT
KEM
(Line-Of-Sight Anti-Tank Kinetic Energy Missile) |
|
|
|
Composite
Engineering |
Skeeter |
|
|
|
Lockheed
Martin |
ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System)
Block IVA |
|
|
|
YAGM-169A |
Lockheed
Martin |
JCM (Joint Common Missile) |
|
In
1997, the designation system for manned aircraft was extended to include a Q
category for UAVs. The following designations have
since been allocated:
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
|
General
Atomics |
Predator (Tier II) |
|
|
RQ-2A/B |
IAI/Pioneer
Inc. |
Pioneer |
|
RQ-3A |
Lockheed
Martin |
DarkStar (Tier III-) |
|
RQ-4A/B |
Northrop
Grumman (Teledyne Ryan) |
Global
Hawk (Tier II+) |
|
RQ-5A |
TRW/IAI |
Hunter (BQM-155A redesignated) |
|
RQ-6A |
Alliant Techsystems |
Outrider |
|
RQ-7A/B |
AAI |
Shadow
200 |
|
RQ-8A/B |
Northrop
Grumman |
Fire
Scout VTUAV
(Vertical Take-Off UAV) |
|
MQ-9A |
General
Atomics |
Predator
B |
|
MMIST |
SnowGoose |
|
|
AeroVironment |
Raven |
Notes:
1. Source [3]
(1974 ed.) lists SAM-N-7 as the old designation for Tartar. Since
Tartar was a direct development of Terrier, the original SAM-N-7,
it is possible, that the Navy at some time started to refer to both systems as SAM-N-7.
2. Several sources list the AQM-35 as the Bendix
Talos, with an old designation of XQ-4B.
Some of these sources say that there was also an RIM-35 designation,
implying a shipborne surface-to-air missile. But the
designation of the Talos SAM was of course RIM-8.
While it seems to be certain, that Bendix produced a
batch of XQ-4B drones originally designed by Radioplane,
the XQ-4 is a vehicle completely different from the Bendix
SAM-N-6/RIM-8 Talos missile. That said, it can be safely assumed that there was never a
"RIM-35" missile, and that the sources saying so are in error.
3. The Nike Zeus A was developed into the Nike Zeus B/Spartan
exo-atmospheric interceptor component of the Safeguard
ABM system (the endo-atmospheric short-range
component was Sprint). Several sources claim that Nike Zeus A was
designated XLIM-49A, and Spartan became LIM-49A, although
it was significantly different from Nike Zeus A. However, official
records clearly indicate that XLIM-49A was actually the Nike Zeus B,
which was far more similar to the Spartan.
4. The AN/USD-n designations are from the Joint
Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS). The designations apply to the
complete drone surveillance system, including ground equipment (the AN/USD series includes - among other equipment - also
some drones, which were not redesignated in the
missile series). The USD designator means:
5. The AGM-62 Walleye is an unpowered
glide bomb and shouldn't have been designated in the missile series. The US
Navy actually dropped the AGM-62 designator soon after it had been
allocated, and designated the Walleye as Guided Weapon Mk 1
instead (later versions received higher Mark numbers). No GBU-n/B
designation was used, because the GBU designator did not yet exist in 1963.
6. The missile project number 68 is also reported as AGM-68,
but this is incorrect. Also related to the M-68 slot is the U.S. Navy's request
in 1995 to assign the designation RIM-68A to the Standard Missile
Block IV (as a continuation from RIM-66 and RIM-67). However, the request was
turned down, and the missile became the RIM-156A instead.
7. Although it is likely that the designation LEM-70A was
reserved (but apparently not used) for the Minuteman ERCS, I have no
definite confirmation for this.
8. The XGQM-93A, YGQM-94A, YGQM-98A and XAQM-103A
were originally designated XQM-93A, YQM-94A, YQM-98A and XQM-103A,
respectively (omitting the launch-environment letter). This was in accordance
with the original designation system, see note
above.
9. The XLIM-99A and XLIM-100A designations were reserved
for the US Army in October 1972. This strongly suggests that the numbers were
assigned to the silo-launched anti-ballistic missiles then in development. One
possibility would be Martin-Marietta LIM-99 Sprint and LIM-100
Sprint II (advanced Sprint, later cancelled), but I have no
evidence for this.
10. Some sources say that the RIM-101 is the Sea Sparrow,
later designated as RIM-7. Also, the original AIM-101 designation of the
Air Force Sparrow is sometimes listed in the "101" slot of the
1963 system. However, both of these descriptions are incorrect. The official
source [3]
describes the RIM-101A as a "tube-launched SAM, with passive radar
and IR guidance", which does not fit the original RIM-7E Sea
Sparrow. The most plausible explanation for the confusion is that the RIM-101
was an advanced Sea Sparrow derivative, which was later cancelled in favour of further RIM-7 development.
11. The PQM-102 designation is unusual:
12. The Navy initially used the BGM-109 designation for all Tomahawks,
using numerical suffixes (e.g. BGM-109A-1) to differentiate between the
various launch options. This was later appropriately changed to different
launch environment letters (RGM-109, UGM-109). The USAF BGM-109G
Gryphon GLCM should have been designated MGM-109G, because it was
used only from a mobile ground launcher.
13. The FQM-117A is a very simple model plane, while FQM-117B/C
are 1/9th scale models of MiG-27 and F-16 aircraft, respectively.
14. It was planned to develop a mobile basing system for the Peacekeeper.
The mobile missile would have been designated MGM-118A.
15. ASAT should have been designated AIM-135A, because
purpose-indicator letter "I" is clearly defined as "air and
space intercept" (emphasis by me).
16. The ADM-141A/B are unpowered
glide decoys, while the ADM-141C ITALD (Improved TALD) is a
powered derivative.
17. The designations YPQM-149A and YPQM-150A were
reserved for the two finalist contractors (McDonnell-Douglas and IAI) for the
joint Army/Navy UAV-SR requirement of 1990. However, it was apparently never
formally established which design number would refer to which contractor's
design. In the end neither designation was ever used before the whole UAV
program was restructured.
18. The original AGM-154A/B/C JSOW are unpowered guided glide bombs and should have received GBU-n/B
designations. The planned AGM-154D/E variants are turbojet-powered
derivatives.
19. The designations RQ-1A/B are used by the USAF for the whole
Predator system, including ground equipment. The designations RQ-1K and RQ-1L
apply to the UAVs of the RQ-1A and RQ-1B
systems, respectively. The Predator GCS (Ground Control Station) is called RQ-1P,
and the "Trojan SPIRIT II" SATCOM (Satellite Communication) station
is designated RQ-1U. The designation MQ-1B refers to the Predator
system with UAVs modified to carry the AGM-114 Hellfire
anti-armour missile, and the armed UAVs are called MQ-1L. RQ-1Q is an upgraded
GCS, and RQ-1W is a new SATCOM station (known as PPSL - Predator Primary
Satellite Link). A further upgrade of the GCS is designated as MD-1A,
though (in a new "D-for-Drone Control System" series).
Only a few operational
missiles after 1963 have not (yet) received standard designations. These
include:
There are numerous
drones, targets and UAVs, which were funded and/or
procured by the
Several ballistic missile
targets, which are used in testing anti-ballistic missiles, don't have standard
missile designations. xQM-n designations could be applied to the following
targets:
Currently, there are
several missiles under development, which have not (yet) received a numerical
designation. Missile programs, which are still in the
planning phase (and therefore most probably don't have a designation yet), are
not included in the following list.
Research and test
missiles (other than RPVs) did never receive a
standard designation (there is no appropriate designator for pure test
missiles). Among these are:
There are numerous
missile programs, which were cancelled in the design or development phase, and
which never received a numerical designation. These include:
Rocket-propelled guided
projectiles are effectively gun-launched guided missiles. However, this type of
ammunition is designated by the services as "projectiles" and not
"missiles".
There are guided weapons,
which frequently appear in compilations of guided missile systems, but which
are not proper missiles in the sense of the DOD's missile designation system.
These include e.g.:
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
Previous
Designations |
|
MGR-1A/B/C |
|
Honest
John |
|
|
AIR-2A/B |
|
Genie |
MB-1
(AIR-2A) |
|
Emerson
Electric |
Little
John |
||
|
Naval
Ordnance Test Station |
Weapon
Alpha
(rocket-propelled depth charge) |
|
|
|
RUR-5A/.../F |
Honeywell |
ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) |
|
|
L.T.V./Ford |
(USAF
Program 279L: Blue Scout Junior rocket with ERCS (Emergency Rocket
Communications System)) |
RM-91
(rocket only) |
|
|
XADR-7A |
Raytheon |
(USAF
decoy rocket; possibly similar to ADR-8) |
RCU-1/B
(see note
1) |
|
|
(USAF
chaff rocket; used in AN/ALE-25 Decoy Rocket Pod) |
RCU-2/B
(see note
1) |
|
|
XADR-9A |
Tracor |
(USAF
decoy rocket; I have no details) |
RCU-3/B
(see note
1) |
|
XADR-10A |
Raytheon |
(USAF
decoy rocket; I have no details) |
RCU-4/B
(see note
1) |
|
XADR-11A |
? |
(USAF
decoy rocket; I have no details) |
|
|
XADR-12A |
? |
(USAF
decoy rocket; I have no details) |
|
|
XMQR-13A |
USAMICOM |
BMTS (Ballistic Missile Target
System) |
|
|
XAGR-14A |
Martin
Marietta |
ZAP (Zero Anti-aircraft Potential;
Navy project) |
|
|
USAMICOM |
BATS (Ballistic Aerial Target
System) |
|
|
|
Atlantic
Research |
Gunrunner (Army/Navy target for FIM-43
and MIM-72 training) |
|
|
|
XFGR-17A |
General
Dynamics |
Viper (light anti-tank rocket) |
|
|
GTR-18A |
Naval |
Smokey
Sam (inert
training rocket for simulating SAM launches) |
|
Notes:
1.
The RCU-n/B designations were defined in the Aeronautical
and Support Equipment Type Designation System (ASETDS), which includes
air-dropped ordnance. The "RCU" designator has been deleted from the
ASETDS since at least 1974, and I have no references as to its exact
meaning. I assume, however, that it is something like "Rocket, Chaff"
or "Rocket, Decoy".
Many small rockets,
especially infantry rockets and rockets launched from airborne multi-tube
launchers, have not received standard designations (this was actually specified
in the original version of the designation system, see note
above). These include:
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
Previous
Designations |
|
JPL |
Loki-Dart |
||
|
Aerojet General |
Aerobee-Hi |
||
|
University
of Michigan/NACA |
Nike-Cajun |
||
|
|
Exos |
||
|
Cooper
Development |
Rocksonde 200 |
||
|
PWN-6A/B |
Atlantic
Research |
Kitty (Arcas) |
|
|
Atlantic
Research |
Rooster (Arcas-ROBIN) |
|
|
|
PWN-8A/B |
Space
Data |
Loki
Datasonde |
|
|
XPWN-9A |
Aerojet/UTC |
Kangaroo (US Navy program; cancelled) |
|
|
PWN-10A/B |
Space
Data |
Super
Loki Datasonde |
|
|
Space
Data |
Super
Loki Datasonde |
|
|
|
Space
Data |
Super
Loki ROBIN |
|
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
|
SB-1A |
General
Dynamics |
Atlas
E |
|
SB-2A/B |
Lockheed
Martin (General Dynamics) |
Atlas
II (SB-2A) |
|
SB-3A |
Boeing
(McDonnell-Douglas) |
Delta
II |
|
SB-4A |
Martin
Marietta |
Titan
II |
|
SB-5A/B |
Lockheed
Martin |
Titan
IV |
|
SB-6A |
Martin
Marietta |
Titan
34D |
|
Boeing |
IUS (Inertial Upper Stage; used
with SB-5A/B Titan IV) |
|
|
SSB-8A/B |
Lockheed
Martin (General Dynamics) |
Centaur (used with SB-2A/B Atlas
II (SSB-8A) and SB-5A/B Titan IV (SSB-8B)) |
|
McDonnell-Douglas |
PAM
D-II (Payload
Assist Module D-II; used with SB-3A Delta II) |
|
|
Martin
Marietta |
Transtage (used with SB-6A Titan 34D) |
|
|
Orbital
Sciences |
Pegasus |
The following launch
vehicles have not (yet) received SB-n designations:
|
Designation |
Manufacturer |
Name (Remarks) |
|
WS-1A/B |
General
Electric |
DMSP
Block 5D-2
(Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) (WS-1A) |
|
WS-2A |
- |
DMSP
Block 6
(Defense Meteorological Satellite Program 6; cancelled) |
|
LS-3A/B |
TRW/AESC |
DSP (Defense Support Program) (LS-3A) |
|
ES-4A |
TRW |
DSCS
II (Defense
Satellite Communications System II) |
|
ES-5A |
General
Electric |
DSCS
III (Defense
Satellite Communications System III) |
|
LS-6A |
- |
BSTS (Boost Surveillance and
Tracking System; cancelled) |
|
NS-7A/.../E |
Boeing
(Rockwell) |
Navstar GPS I (Global Positioning System) (NS-7A) |
|
ES-8A |
Lockheed
Martin |
Milstar |
|
LS-9A |
- |
SSTS (Space Surveillance and
Tracking System; cancelled) |
|
- |
SBR (Space Based Radar Satellite
System; cancelled) |
|
|
Boeing |
(USAF
experimental micro-satellite program) |
Notes:
1. The XSS-10 micro-satellite designation is listed as an official MDS
in the 2004 edition of DOD 4120.15-L (source [3]).
No explanation is available, why the S-series design number 10 was reused,
while the equally cancelled number 9 was not. It is not unlikely, however, that
XSS-10 was retroactively "upgraded" to the official XSS-10A MDS. Many
sources refer to XSS as an acronym (Experimental Small Satellite).
Interestingly, the XSS-11 follow-on program is not listed in DOD
4120.15-L.
Many military satellite
systems, including all reconnaissance and intelligence satellites, never
received standard designations. The following list does not include satellites,
which were already out of service, when the designation series for satellites
was introduced in 1990.
In no particular order:
[1] John M. Andrade:
"U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials 1909-1979", Midland,
1979
[2] Bill Gunston: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia
of Rockets and Missiles", Salamander Books Ltd, 1979
[3] Department of Defense Publication 4120.15-L: "Model Designation of
Military Aerospace Vehicles", 1974, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996,
1998 and 2004
editions
[4] Department of Defense: "Model Designation of Military Aircraft,
Rockets and Missiles", 7/1964, 1/1965, 7/1965, 1/1970 editions
[5] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records
Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch
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Last Updated: 7 April 2005