U.S. Military Aircraft Designations
1911-2004
"A"
Designation, Image/Footnote | Official, Popular Name(s) | Manufacturer | 1st Flight or Appearance | Role(s)/Notes |
AD (A-1) | Able Dog, Skyraider, Spad, Sandy, Queer Spad (AD-5Q) | Douglas | 1946 | USN/USMC/USAF torpedo/dive bomber, COIN, attack, ECM; redes. from BT2D; redes. to A-1 in 1962 | |
A2D | Skyshark | Douglas | 1950 | USN attack; contra-rotating propellers | |
A3D (A-3) | Skywarrior, All Three Dead, Whale, Whistling Shitcan | Douglas | 1952 | USN strategic bomber, trainer; redes. to A-3 in 1962 | |
1 | A4D (A-4) | Skyhawk, The Scooter, Heinemann's Hot Rod, Bantam Bomber, Tinker Toy, Mighty Mite | Douglas | 1954 | USN/USMC attack bomber, trainer; proposed Army FAC, tactical recon.; redes. to A-4 in 1962 |
AE (L-4) | Cub | Piper | 1942 | USN/USMC ambulance L-4; redes. HE | |
AF | Guardian, Fertile Myrtle (-2W), Guppy (-2W), Scrapper (-2S) | Grumman | 1949 | USN hunter (AF-2W)/killer (AF-2S), ASW, strike; redes. from TB3F | |
A2F (A-6) | Intruder, Dogship, Sterile Arrow, Iron Tadpole, Queer (-1Q), Q-Bird (-1Q) | Grumman | 1960 | USN/USMC all-weather attack bomber; redes. to A-6 in 1962 | |
AH | Phantom II | McDonnell | 1954 | USN/USMC multirole attack fighter; redes. to F4H in 1955, then to F-4 in 1962 | |
AJ (A-2) | Savage | North American | 1948 | USN strategic attack bomber, photo reconnaissance; redes. to A-2 in 1962 | |
A2J | North American | 1950 | USN strategic attack bomber; contra-rotating propellors; development AJ | ||
A3J (A-5) | Vigilante | North American | 1958 | USN strategic attack bomber, later recon., tanker, ECM; redes. to A-5 (RA-5) in 1962 | |
AM | Mauler, Able Mabel | Martin | 1946 | USN attack bomber; redes. production BTM | |
AU | Corsair | Vought | 1952 | USMC low-altitude air support fighter F4U | |
A2U | Cutlass | Vought | 1954 | USN proposed attack F7U | |
A-1 | Triad | Curtiss | 1911 | USN patrol land/hydroplane pusher biplane; first aircraft purchased for USN; redes. to AH-1 in 1914 | |
A-1 | Cox-Klemin | 1923 | ambulance plane | ||
23 | A-1 | ||||
A-1 | Fleetwings | 1940 | powered aerial target | ||
A-1 (AD) | Skyraider, Spad, Flying Dump Truck, Sandy, Super Spad, MiG-Killer | Douglas | 1962 | USN/USMC/USAF torpedo/dive bomber, COIN, attack, ECM; redes. from AD | |
A-2 | Curtiss | 1912 | USN patrol pusher-prop. biplane amphibian; redes. to E-1 in 1914 | ||
A-2 | Fokker | 1923 | ambulance; modified T-2 | ||
A-2 | Radioplane | 1940 | unmanned aerial target; redes. to OQ-2 in 1941 | ||
A-2 | Douglas | 1926 | attack; converted O-2 | ||
A-2 (AJ) | Savage | North American | 1962 | USN strategic attack bomber, photo recon.; redes. AJ | |
A-3 | Curtiss | 1913 | USN patrol pusher-prop. land/hydroplane; redes. to AH-3 in 1914 | ||
A-3 | Falcon | Curtiss | 1927 | attack, trainer Curtiss O-1 | |
A-3 (N2C) | Fledgling | Curtiss | 1940 | aerial target-modified N2C | |
A-3 (A3D) | Skywarrior, All Three Dead, Whale, Whistling Shitcan | Douglas | 1962 | USN strategic bomber; redes. A3D | |
A-4 | Curtiss | 1913 | USN patrol land/hydroplane; redes. to AH-2 in 1914 | ||
A-4 | Falcon | Curtiss | 1928 | reengined A-3 | |
A-4 | Douglas | 1940 | aerial target BT-2 | ||
A-4 (A4D) | Skyhawk, The Scooter, Heinemann's Hot Rod, Bantam Bomber, Mighty Mite, Tinker Toy | Douglas | 1962 | USN/USMC attack bomber, trainer, DACT; redes. A4D | |
A-4M | Skyhawk II, Mongoose | McDonnell Douglas | 1970 | USMC modified A-4 - reengined, new canopy, greater weapons capacity | |
A-5 | Falcon | Curtiss | 1931 | proposed attack O-16 | |
A-5 | Boeing | 1941 | proposed P-12 aerial target | ||
A-5 (A3J) | Vigilante | North American | 1962 | USN strategic attack bomber, later recon., tanker, ECM; redes. A3J | |
A-6 | Falcon | Curtiss | 1931 | proposed attack O-18 | |
A-6 | Milirole | Douglas | 1940 | proposed O-38 aerial target | |
A-6 (A2F) | Intruder, Dogship, Iron Tadpole | Grumman | 1962 | USN/USMC all-weather attack bomber - redes. A2F | |
A-6F | Intruder II | Grumman | 1987 | interdictor-modified A-6; program cancelled | |
A-7 | Fokker (Atlantic) | 1930 | attack | ||
A-7 | Airacobra | Bell | 1941 | aerial target P-39 | |
A-7 | Corsair II, SLUF (Short Little Ugly Fucker/Fella), Little Hummer, Man-Eater | LTV (Vought) | 1965 | USN tactical attack, trainer, tanker; USAF attack, CAS; adaptation of F-8 (F8U) | |
A-7F | Strikefighter, A-7 Plus | Vought | 1987 | CAS/BAI-modified A-7; program cancelled | |
A-8 | Shrike | Curtiss | 1931 | attack | |
A-8 | Culver | 1942 | powered aerial target | ||
2 | A-8 | Harrier (A), Harrier II (B), Jump Jet, Scarier, Whistling Shitcan | McDD/BAe | 1970 | USMC temporary designation for AV-8A/B STOVL attack aircraft |
A-9 | Lockheed | 1931 | proposed attack P-24 | ||
A-9 | Goose | Grumman | 1948 | observation amphibian; redes. OA-9 | |
A-9 | Northrop | 1972 | CAS; (losing) competitor to A-10 Warthog | ||
A-10 (S2C) | Shrike | Curtiss | 1932 | reengined A-8 | |
A-10 (PBY) | Catalina | Consolidated Vultee | 1948 | observation amphibian; redes. OA-10 (PBY) | |
A-10 | Thunderbolt II, Warthog, Hog, SBD (Silent But Deadly), Thud II, SLAT (Slow Low Aerial Target), Porker, Devil's Cross | Fairchild Republic | 1972 | anti-armour CAS | |
A-11 | Consolidated | 1933 | attack P-25 | ||
3 | A-11 | Lockheed | 1962 | prototype YF-12; non-standard designation | |
A-12 | Shrike | Curtiss | 1933 | production/reengined A-10 | |
A-12 (J2F) | Duck | Grumman | 1948 | observation amphibian; redes. OA-12 | |
3 | A-12 | Lockheed | 1962 | prototype YF-12; non-standard designation | |
A-12 | Avenger 2, Dorito | General Dynamics/McDD | 1990 | USN/USAF (F-111 replacement?) flying wing advanced tactical attack (ATA); cancelled | |
A-13 | Northrop | 1933 | attack; converted civilian Gamma mailplane | ||
A-14 | Curtiss | 1935 | attack bomber | ||
A-15 | Martin | 1934 | proposed attack bomber B-10 | ||
A-16 | Northrop | 1936 | reengined/modified A-13, prototype A-17 | ||
A-16 (JR2F) | Albatross | Grumman | 1947 | USAF SAR amphibian JR2F; redes. to U-16 in 1962 | |
A-16 | Fighting Falcon | General Dynamics | 1987 | proposed CAS F-16; non-standard designation | |
A-17 (FT) | Nomad | Northrop | 1935 | attack; modified/reengined A-16 | |
A-18 | Shrike II | Curtiss | 1937 | attack; production/reengined A-14 | |
A-19 | Vultee | 1939 | attack | ||
A-20 (BD) | Havoc, Flying Pike | Douglas | 1939 | fighter, bomber, recon. | |
A-21 | Stearman | 1940 | attack bomber | ||
A-22 | Martin | 1939 | attack bomber; exported to UK as "Maryland" | ||
A-23 | Martin | 1940 | attack bomber; reengined/modified A-22; exported to UK as "Baltimore" | ||
A-24 (SBD) | Banshee, Dauntless, Barge, Clunk, Speedy Three | Douglas | 1942 | USAAF dive bomber SBD | |
A-25 (SB2C) | Helldiver | Curtiss | 1940 | USAAF dive bomber SB2C | |
A-26 | Invader, Little Hummer | Douglas | 1942 | attack bomber, recon.; redes. to B-26 in 1948 | |
A-27 | North American | 1940 | attack AT-6; initially for export only | ||
A-28 (PBO) | Hudson | Lockheed | 1942 | recon. bomber, utility | |
A-29 (PBO) | Hudson | Lockheed | 1942 | modified A-28 | |
A-30 | Martin | 1942 | Lend-Lease Act; modified A-23 | ||
A-31 | Vengeance | Vultee | 1941 | dive bomber; reacquired Lend-Lease aircraft | |
A-32 | Brewster | 1943 | attack dive bomber | ||
A-33 | Nomad | Northrop | 1942 | modified A-17 design | |
A-34 (SB2A) | Buccaneer | Brewster | 1942 | exported SB2A (as "Bermuda") | |
A-35 | Vengeance | Vultee | 1941 | modified A-31 | |
A-36 | Apache, Invader | North American | 1942 | dive bomber, attack; modified P-51 Mustang | |
A-37 | Hughes | 1942 | proposed twin-engine attack | ||
22 | A-37 | Dragonfly, Super Tweet | Cessna | 1966 | COIN, light attack T-37; incorrectly redes. from AT-37 |
A-38 | Grizzly, Destroyer | Beech | 1942 | twin-tailed fighter (bomber killer), attack | |
A-39 | Kaiser-Fleetwings | 1942 | proposed twin engine attack | ||
A-40 (SB3C) | Curtiss | 1942 | cancelled USAAF dive bomber development SB3C | ||
A-41 | Vultee (Convair) | 1942 | initially dive bomber, later ground attack | ||
A-42 | Mixmaster | Douglas | 1948 | high-speed twin contrarotating pusher-prop attack bomber; redes. to B-42 in 1948 | |
A-43 | Blackhawk | Curtiss | 1944 | quadjet attack; modified/redes. to P-87 (F-87) in 1948 | |
A-44 | Convair | 1944 | cancelled trijet forward-swept wing bomber; redes. to B-53 in 1948 | ||
A-45 | Martin | 1945 | trijet (2 pod-mounted under nose, one aft under tail) low-level attack bomber with variable-incidence wings; redes. to B-51 in 1948 | ||
A-51 | Martin | 1945 | production model A-45 | ||
AB-1 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from C-1 | ||
AB-2 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from C-2 | ||
AB-3 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN/USMC flying boat - redes. from C-3 | ||
AB-4 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from C-4 | ||
AB-5 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from C-5 | ||
AB-6 | Burgess | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from D-1 | ||
AB-7 | Burgess | 1914 | USN flying boat - redes. from D-2 | ||
AC-1 (CV-2) | Caribou | De Havilland Canada | 1959 | Army STOL utility transport civilian DHC-4; redes. to CV-2 (1960) then C-7 (1967) | |
AC-2 (CV-7) | Buffalo | De Havilland Canada | 1964 | Army civilian DHC-5 evaluation; redes. to CV-7 (1965) then C-8 (1967) | |
AC-47 | Puff the Magic Dragon, Puff, Spooky, Gunship I, Dragonship | Douglas | 1961 | air/ground weapons platform (gunship) C-47 | |
AC-54 | Skymaster | Douglas | 1950 | AACS C-54 | |
AC-119G | Shadow, Gunship III | Fairchild | 1967 | armed interdictor C-119 | |
AC-119K | Stinger, Gunship III | Fairchild | 1967 | jet-boosted, improved AC-119G | |
AC-123 | Provider | Fairchild | c.1970 | sensor recon., bomb canister dispensor C-123 | |
AC-130A | Gunship II | Lockheed | 1967 | gunship-modified C-130A | |
AC-130E | Spectre | Lockheed | 1972 | modified AC-130A | |
AC-130A | Spectre II | Lockheed | 1974 | modified AC-130E - updated sensors/weapons | |
ACH-47A | Go-Go-Bird, Chinook | Boeing Vertol | 1965 | experimental fire-suppression/gunship H-47 | |
AF-1E (FJ-4B) | Fury | North American | 1962 | USN carrier-based attack fighter F-1 - redes. from FJ-4B | |
AF-9J (F9F-8B) | Cougar | Grumman | 1962 | USN carrier-based attack fighter F-9 - redes. from F9F-8B | |
AG-1 | Christopher | 1945 | assault glider | ||
AG-2 | Timm | 1945 | assault glider | ||
AH-1 | Triad | Curtiss | 1914 | USN patrol land/hydroplane pusher biplane; first aircraft purchased for USN; redes. from A-1 | |
AH-1 | HueyCobra, Cobra, Snake | Bell | 1965 | USMC/Army close-support attack helicopter H-1 | |
AH-1J | SeaCobra | Bell | 1970 | twin-engined USMC AH-1 TOW-equipped Cobra | |
AH-1W | SuperCobra | Bell | 1983 | USMC AH-1T with better weapon load, better engine | |
AH-2 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN hydroplane - redes. from A-4 | ||
AH-3 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN hydroplane - redes. from A-3 | ||
AH-4 | Wright | 1914 | USN hydroplane - redes. from B-1 | ||
AH-5 | Wright | 1914 | USN hydroplane - redes. from B-2 | ||
AH-6 | Wright | 1914 | USN hydroplane - redes. from B-3 | ||
AH-6F | Defender, Little Bird, Olive on a Toothpick, Super Bee | McDonnell Douglas | 1988 | Army/USN armed H-6/civilian MD500MD/530; actual des. of the OH-8 | |
AH-7 | Burgess (Curtiss) | 1915 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-8 | Curtiss | 1916 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-9 | Curtiss | 1915 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-10 | Curtiss | 1917 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-11 | Curtiss | 1916 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-12 | Curtiss | 1915 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-13 | Curtiss | 1916 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-14 | Curtiss | 1916 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-15 | Curtiss | 1919 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-16 | Curtiss | 1918 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-17 | Curtiss | 1920 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-18 | Curtiss | 1922 | USN hydroplane | ||
AH-56 | Cheyenne | Lockheed | 1967 | Army cancelled heavily armed attack escort, all-weather pusher-prop. H-56 | |
AH-58D | Warrior, KiowaWarrior | Bell | 1988 | Army armed/modified OH-58D; unoffical des. for OH-58D | |
AH-63 | KingCobra | Bell | 1975 | Army modified AH-1, competitor AH-64 | |
AH-64 | Apache | McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) | 1975 | Army anti-armor attack H-64 | |
AH-64 | Sea Apache | McDonnell Douglas | 1980 | proposed shipborne operations AH-64 | |
AH-64D | Longbow Apache | McDonnell Douglas | 1997 | modified AH-64 - mast-mounted radar, better armament capabilities | |
AL-1 | Airborne Laser | Boeing | 1998 | civilian 747-400F derivative with onboard LASER for destroying ICBMs | |
AO-1 | Fokker (Atlantic) | 1924 | Artillery Observation | ||
AO-1 (OV-1) | Mohawk | Grumman | 1960 | Army STOL photo recon., observation; redes. to OV-1 in 1962 | |
AO-2 | Goodyear | 1960 | Army observation evaluation civilian Model 466 Inflatoplane | ||
AO-3 | Goodyear | 1960 | Army evaluation civilian Model 368 Inflatoplane | ||
25 | AP-2E/H (P2V-5/7) | Neptune | Lockheed | 1962 | USN SIGINT/EW-, gunship-modified P-2 (P2V-5/7) |
AS | Aeromarine | 1922 | scout, observation flying boat | ||
AT-1 (HN) | Huff-Daland | 1925 | advanced trainer - redes. from TW-5 | ||
AT-2 | Huff-Daland | 1925 | modified AT-1 | ||
AT-3 | Boeing | 1925 | advanced trainer PW-9 | ||
AT-4 | Hawk | Curtiss | 1927 | advanced trainer P-1 | |
AT-5 | Hawk | Curtiss | 1927 | reengined AT-4 | |
AT-6 (SNJ-3 -6) | Texan, Awful Terrible Six | North American | 1940 | basic trainer - redes. from BC-1 - redes. to T-6 in 1948 | |
AT-7 | Navigator | Beech | 1943 | advanced trainer C-45/civilian Beech 18 | |
AT-8 | Bobcat | Cessna | 1940 | advanced trainer | |
AT-9 | Jeep | Curtiss | 1940 | advanced trainer | |
AT-10 | Wichita | Beech | 1941 | advanced trainer | |
AT-11 | Kansas, Kansan | Beech | 1941 | modified AT-7 | |
AT-12 | Guardsman | Republic | 1941 | advanced trainer P-35 | |
AT-13 | Gunner | Fairchild | 1941 | bomber trainer | |
AT-14 | Gunner | Fairchild | 1941 | reengined AT-13 | |
AT-15 | Crewmaker | Boeing | 1941 | plywood bombing trainer | |
AT-16 | Noorduyn | 1942 | Canadian-built Lend-Lease AT-6 | ||
AT-17 | Bobcat, Bamboo Bomber | Cessna | 1942 | impressed advanced trainer - modified AT-8 | |
AT-18 | Hudson | Lockheed | 1943 | advanced trainer A-28/29 | |
AT-19 | Reliant | Vultee | 1942 | Stinson design; exported to UK as C-81 | |
AT-20 | Avro Anson | Federal | 1943 | Canadian advanced trainer | |
AT-21 | Gunner | Fairchild | 1943 | air gunnery trainer AT-14 | |
AT-22 | Liberator | Consolidated | 1942 | flight engineering trainer B-24 | |
AT-23 | Marauder | Martin | 1944 | advanced trainer B-26; redes. to TB-26 in 1948 | |
AT-24 | Mitchell | North American | 1945 | advanced trainer B-25; redes. to TB-25 in 1948 | |
AT-28 | Nomad | Fairchild | 1963 | attack - modified T-28D with turboprops | |
AT-29 | Flying Classroom | Convair | 1947 | advanced trainer civilian Model 240/C-131; redes. to T-29 in 1948 | |
AT-33 | T-Bird | Lockheed | 1950 | CAS-modified T-33 | |
22 | AT-37 | Tweety Bird, Tweet | Cessna | 1963 | COIN - modified T-37C; incorrectly redes. to A-37 in 1966 |
AT-38 | Talon, White Mosquito, White Rocket | Northrop | 1960? | bombing practice, FLIT T-38 | |
AT-46 | Eaglet, Thunder Piglet | Fairchild | 1983 | attack T-46 | |
AU-23 | Peacemaker | Fairchild-Hiller | 1971 | STOL attack utility - COIN, FAC, liaison, photographic recon., transport | |
AU-24 | Stallion | Helio-GAC | 1971 | attack utility - competitor AU-23 | |
2 | AV-6B | Harrier | McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace | 1971 | probable correct designation in "V" series for AV-8 (see note) |
2 | AV-8A | Harrier, Jump Jet, Scarier, Whistling Shitcan | McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace | 1971 | USMC STOVL multirole CAS attack fighter V-8 (semi-correct)/A-8 (incorrect) |
5 | AV-8B | Harrier II, Super Harrier, Jump Jet, Scarier, Whistling Shitcan | McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace | 1979 | USMC modified AV-8A with LERX, new wing, new canopy, improved weapons capabilities |
AV-16 | British Aerospace | 1973 | proposed advanced version AV-8A offered to USN/USMC, RAF/RN | ||
AX-1 | Curtiss | 1914 | USN/USMC amphibian; redes. from E-1 | ||
AZ-1 | Marvelette | Mississippi State University | 1959? | Army all-fiberglass STOL, BLC, wing camber research aircraft; developed as V-11 in 1969 |