1963 United States Tri-Service rocket and guided missile designation system explained

In 1963, the U.S. Department of Defense established a designation system for rockets and guided missiles jointly used by all the United States armed services.[1] It superseded the separate designation systems the Air Force and Navy had for designating US guided missiles and drones, but also a short-lived interim USAF system for guided missiles and rockets.[2]

History

On 11 December 1962, the U.S. Department of Defense issued Directive 4000.20 “Designating, Redesignating, and Naming Military Rockets and Guided Missiles” which called for a joint designation system for rockets and missiles which was to be used by all armed forces services. The directive was implemented via Air Force Regulation (AFR) 66-20, Army Regulation (AR) 705-36, Bureau of Weapons Instruction (BUWEPSINST) 8800.2 on 27 June 1963. A subsequent directive, DoD Directive 4120.15 "Designating and Naming Military Aircraft, Rockets, and Guided Missiles", was issued on 24 November 1971 and implemented via Air Force Regulation (AFR) 82-1/Army Regulation (AR) 70-50/Naval Material Command Instruction (NAVMATINST) 8800.4A on 27 March 1974. Within AFR 82-1/AR 70-50/NAVMATINST 8800.4A, the 1963 rocket and guided missile designation system was presented alongside the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system and the two systems have been concurrently presented and maintained in joint publications since.

The current version of the rocket and missile designation system was mandated by Joint Regulation 4120.15E Designating and Naming Military Aerospace Vehicles and was implemented via Air Force Instruction (AFI) 16-401, Army Regulation (AR) 70-50, Naval Air Systems Command Instruction (NAVAIRINST) 13100.16 on 3 November 2020. The list of military rockets and guided missiles was maintained via 4120.15-L Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles until its transition to data.af.mil on 31 August 2018.[3]

Explanation

The basic designation of every rocket and guided missile is based in a set of letters called the Mission Design Sequence. The sequence indicates the following:

Examples of guided missile designators are as follows:

The design or project number follows the basic designator. In turn, the number may be followed by consecutive letters, representing modifications.

Example:

RGM-84D means:

In addition, most guided missiles have names, such as Harpoon, Tomahawk, Sea Sparrow, etc. These names are retained regardless of subsequent modifications to the missile.

Code

+ First letter designating launch environment
Letter Launch environment Detailed description
AAirAir-launched
BMultipleCapable of being launched from more than one environment
CCoffin or ContainerStored horizontally or at less than a 45-degree angle in a protective enclosure and launched from the ground
FIndividual or InfantryCarried and launched by one man
GGroundOther Ground-launched, such as runway
HSilo-storedStored vertically in a silo but raised to ground level for launch
LLand or SiloLaunched from a fixed site or hardened silo
MMobileLaunched from a ground vehicle or movable platform
PSoft PadPartially or unprotected in storage and launched from the ground
RSurface shipLaunched from a surface vessel such as a ship, barge, etc.
SSpaceLaunched from a vehicle that operates outside earth's atmosphere
UUnderwaterLaunched from a submarine or other underwater device
+ Second letter designating mission symbol
Letter Mission Detailed description
CTransportVehicle designed for transporting items from one place to another
DDecoyVehicles designed or modified to confuse, deceive, or divert enemy defenses by simulating an attack vehicle
ESpecial ElectronicVehicles designed or modified with electronics equipment for communications, countermeasures, electronic radiation sounding, or other electronic recording or relay missions
GSurface AttackVehicles designed to destroy enemy land or sea targets
IIntercept-AerialVehicles designed to intercept aerial targets in defensive roles
LLaunch DetectionVehicles designed for detecting and tracking satellites and missiles.
MScientificVehicles designed for scientific purposes.
NNavigationVehicles to provide data for navigation purposes.
QDroneVehicles designed for target reconnaissance or surveillance
SSpaceVehicles designed to support or destroy space-based targets
TTrainingVehicles designed or permanently modified for training purposes
UUnderwater attackVehicles designed to destroy enemy submarines or other underwater targets, or to detonate underwater
WWeatherVehicles designed to observe, record, or relay data pertaining to meteorological phenomena
+ Third letter designating vehicle type symbol
Letter Vehicle type Detailed description
BBoosterA system to provide thrust for a satellite, missile, or aerospace vehicle.
MGuided MissileAn unmanned, self-propelled vehicle with remote or internal trajectory guidance
NProbeA non-orbital instrumented vehicle used to monitor and transmit environmental information
RRocketA self-propelled vehicle whose flight trajectory cannot be altered after launch
SSatelliteA vehicle placed in orbit.

Prefixes

Additionally, a prefix may be added to the designation indicating a non-standard configuration.

+ Optional Non-Standard Prefix
Letter Vehicle type Detailed description
eDigitally DevelopedSystem developed in a virtual environment.
CCaptiveFunctional but inert vehicle incapable of being fired.
DDummyNon-flyable vehicle for ground crew training.
JTemporary Special TestVehicles temporarily modified for special test purposes.
NPermanent Special TestVehicles permanently modified for special test purposes.
XExperimentalExperimental vehicle
YPrototypePrototype vehicle
ZPlanningVehicle that is still in the planning phase.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Current Designations of U.S. Unmanned Military Aerospace Vehicles.
  2. Web site: Pre-1963 Designations of U.S. Missiles and Drones.
  3. Web site: November 3, 2020 . DESIGNATING AND NAMING DEFENSE MILITARY AEROSPACE VEHICLES . July 9, 2024.