Current Designations of U.S. Unmanned Military Aerospace Vehicles

Copyright © 2000-2018 Andreas Parsch

1 The Designation System

2 Designation Listings

3 Sources

1 The Designation System

The current designation system for U.S. military missiles, rockets and target drones was introduced by the Department of Defense in 1963. It became formally effective on 27 June 1963, and closely followed the pattern of the aircraft designation system, which had been introduced the year before. As such, it was not based on any previous missile designation system used by the U.S. military services, and therefore all missiles then in service were assigned new designations under the new system. The designation system has since been slightly revised and extended (notably by the inclusion of space-related vehicles in the 1988/89 time frame), and the latest version is defined by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 16-401(I) (formerly Air Force Joint Instruction 16-401) Designating and Naming Military Aerospace Vehicles (PDF file, 480 kB), dated 14 March 2005. AFI 16-401(I) not only covers the aircraft and missile designation systems, but also some of the bureaucratic red tape to be followed for actually assigning a name or a designation to a military aerospace vehicle.

A U.S. military aerospace vehicle designation is also known as an "MDS Designation" (MDS = "Mission-Design-Series", see aircraft designations). An MDS for missiles, rockets, etc. looks as follows (all examples are real-world designations):

Examples: L G M - 30 G Minuteman III A I M - 9 P -2 Sidewinder C A T 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) (8)

In the following section, each of the eight elements is explained in detail. For all letter symbols a year range is given in brackets to document when this particular symbol is/was valid. If one of the bounds is given as a range (e.g. 1988/89), this means that I don't know the respective year more exactly.

(1) Vehicle Type: This letter defines the broad category of the vehicle, and defines in which series the MDS is numbered (see section (4) below).

Notes for Vehicle Type Symbol: The "B" and "S" type letters were introduced in the 1988/89 time frame, and almost all actual MDS's using these letters were established at the same time. Since then, essentially all new boosters (e.g. the Atlas V and Delta 4) and satellites have not received an MDS designation. Furthermore, the booster and satellite MDS's are never mentioned outside a few formal DOD documents.

From 1963 to 1997, reusable UAVs were also covered by the "M" type letter. Since 1997, these vehicles have been designated in a new Q-for-UAV series in the aircraft designation system.

A "probe" is defined as a non-orbital instrumented vehicle used for meteorological and other measurements (i.e., a sounding rocket). As such, the "N" vehicle type is effectively superfluous, because every probe could be classed within one the types "M" (if the probe is guided) or "R" (if it is not).

The "R" vehicle type covers unguided rockets. The original regulation of 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 MDS designations to these types of rockets.



(2) Mission: The letter to the left of the vehicle type symbol designates the mission of the vehicle. The following mission symbols are defined (see note 1):

C - Transport [1988/89-today] (see note 2)

D - Decoy [1963-today]

E - Special Electronics, Communication [1963-today]

G - Surface Attack [1963-today]

I - Interception [1963-today] (see note 3)

L - Launch Detection [1988/89-today]

M - Scientific Measurements, Calibration [1988/89-today] (see note 2)

N - Navigation [1988/89-today]

Q - Target Drone (formerly also UAV) [1963-today] (see note 4)

S - Space Operations Support [1988/89-today]

T - Training [1963-today]

U - Underwater Attack [1963-today]

W - Weather [1963-today] (see note 5)

Notes for Mission Symbol: It is interesting to note that there is no mission letter for "Experimental". This means that purely experimental vehicles (other than prototypes of operational vehicles) are not intended to receive MDS 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 designated RQ-n (see also note 4 below). Reconnaissance satellites, on the other hand, do not receive MDS designations, presumably because they are operated by the NRO (National Reconaissance Office) and not the military.

As of December 2006, the "C" and "M" mission symbols have not yet been used for any MDS designation.

"I" covers interception within and outside the atmosphere. The designation ASM-135A for an anti-satellite missile project was allocated before the "S" mission symbol had been properly defined. Nowadays, such a missile would be designated as AIM-n.

The "Q" mission symbol 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 aircraft designation system, and since then the letter "Q" in the missile designation system is limited to targets.

"W" covers vehicles (probes or satellites), which are gathering and/or distributing meteorological data.



(3) Launch Environment: This letter describes the launch environment of the aerospace vehicle. The original regulation of 1963 allowed the omission of the launch environment letter, if a status prefix letter was used. This option has been removed in the 1970s, resulting in a few redesignations (like YQM-94A to YGQM-94A). Designations for satellites and ground-launched boosters do not use the launch environment symbol. 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, Delta or Titan. The following launch environment symbols are defined:

A - Air [1963-today]

B - Multiple [1963-today] (see note 1)

C - Coffin [1963-today] (see note 2)

F - Individual [1966/70-today]

G - Runway or Ground [1976-today] (see note 3)

H - Silo Stored [1963-today] (see note 4)

L - Silo Launched [1963-today]

M - Ground Launched, Mobile [1963-today]

P - Soft Pad [1963-today] (see note 5)

R - Surface Ship [1963-today]

S - Space [1988/89-today] (see note 6)

U - Underwater [1963-today]

Notes for Launch Environment Symbol: "B" 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).

In this context, a "coffin" is defined as a non-hardened container.

"G" is primarily meant for runway-launched vehicles. Otherwise, it 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.

"H" is used for missiles, which are stored in a silo, but launched from the surface. Such technology was only used for first-generation ICBMs (HGM-16F and HGM-25A), and is now obsolete. Therefore, launch environment symbol "H" is effectively unused today.

A "soft pad" is defined as a fixed, but unprotected surface location.

The "S" launch environment symbol has so far only been used in the SSB-n designations for upper stages of space launch vehicles.



(4) Design Number: Each vehicle type is used to form a separate series of design numbers, each starting from 1. The numbers in each series are to be assigned in strict numerical sequence without reference to manufacturers' model numbers and/or existing numbers in other MDS series. It is possible that multiple versions of a missile for different purposes and/or with different launch options exist. These versions would use the same design number with different letter combinations. An example for this is the LTV Regulus II missile: RGM-15A was the ship-launched ground-attack missile, MQM-15A was a ground-launched target drone version.

(5) Series Letter: Variants of a basic vehicle type are designated by a suffix letter. The first model always receives suffix "A" and subsequent series letters are to be assigned in strict sequence (omitting "I" and "O" to avoid confusion with numerals "1" and "0"). The series letter is actually a mandatory component of a conforming MDS, and therefore "plain" designations like "AIM-120" always designate the general type of vehicle and never a specific model.

(6) Status Prefix: Any vehicle, which is not in normal operational service or is of a special non-operational configuration, can receive a prefix letter in its designation to reflect its current status. The following status prefixes are defined:

Notes for Status Prefix Symbol: A "captive" variant of an air-launched missile is one, which can be carried by aircraft (for training purposes) but not actually launched.

A "dummy" missile is a completely inert round (without motor or warhead), which can be used for ground handling and loading training.

A "J" prefix is used if the vehicle can be converted back to standard configuration after the tests have ended. The "N" prefix is used for vehicles, which are modified so extensively for special tests, that a reconversion to the original configuration is neither planned nor feasible at reasonable costs.

The "M" status symbol was apparently considered as unnecessary.

"Z" is hardly used nowadays. Current aerospace vehicle projects very rarely receive a designation before the actual prototype is under construction, and even if they do the "Z" prefix is often not applied.



(7) Configuration Number: This is an optional element of the designation, and not part of the MDS proper. Minor modifications or slightly differing sub-variants of a specific missile or rocket model can be indicated by an additional suffix number, separated from the series letter by a dash.

(8) Popular Name: 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 designation, many missiles are almost exclusively referenced by their name, both in the popular press and in official government news releases and documents.

2 Designation Listings

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.

2.1 Missiles, Drones and UAVs

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) RQ-1A/B (see note 19)

MQ-1B

MQ-1C General Atomics Predator

Gray Eagle (MQ-1C) RQ-2A/B/C

QRQ-2B IAI/Pioneer Inc. Pioneer RQ-3A Lockheed Martin DarkStar RQ-4A/B

MQ-4C/D Northrop Grumman (Teledyne Ryan) Global Hawk RQ-5A

MQ-5A/B Northrop Grumman (TRW/IAI) Hunter (BQM-155A redesignated) RQ-6A Alliant Techsystems Outrider RQ-7A/B AAI Shadow 200 RQ-8A

MQ-8B/C Northrop Grumman Fire Scout MQ-9A General Atomics Reaper (Predator B) CQ-10A MMIST SnowGoose RQ-11A/B AeroVironment Raven RQ-12A (see note 20) AeroVironment Wasp AE (Q-13) Not assigned RQ-14A/B AeroVironment Dragon Eye (RQ-14A)

Swift (RQ-14B) RQ-15A DRS Neptune RQ-16A/B Honeywell (VTOL Micro Air Vehicle) XMQ-17A MTC Technologies SpyHawk YMQ-18A Boeing A160T Hummingbird XMQ-19A AAI Aerosonde RQ-20A AeroVironment Puma AE RQ-21A Insitu Integrator XRQ-22A AeroVironment Global Observer RQ-23A NAVMAR TigerShark CQ-24A Kaman K-MAX ZRAQ-25A - UCLASS (Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance and Strike) RQ-26A AeroNautics Defense Systems AeroStar RQ-27A Insitu ScanEagle XQ-58A (see note 21) Kratos Valkyrie XRQ-72A (see note 22) Northrop Grumman Great Horned Owl

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: Installation indicator "U": Combination (air and ground in this case)

Type indicator "S": Combination

Purpose indicator "D": Surveillance 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. This was in accordance with the original designation system, which allowed omisson of the launch-environment letter when a status prefix was used. 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: Usually, drone conversions of manned aircraft are indicated by a Q prefix, i.e. QF-102

It is a coincidence that the "102" missile number became available just in time for the F-102 drones. Although it might look as if the PQM-102 number was assigned out-of-sequence, this was probably not the case.

At the time when the drone was designated, the G-for-Runway launch environment letter did not yet exist. Therefore a P-for-Soft Pad letter was used as the best available option. 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 defined as "air and space intercept". 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). 20. The Q-12 design number was originally requested by the Army for the YMQ-12A, but rejected in favor of YMQ-1C. The Q-12 slot remained unassigned for several years, until it was filled with the allocation of RQ-12A. 21. XQ-58A is an out-of-sequence designation, where the number was most likely taken from the X-series. There was no X-plane announced between the X-57A and X-59A. 22. It is unclear, why the out-of-sequence number 72 was assigned.

Undesignated Missiles, Drones and UAVs

Only a few operational missiles after 1963 have not (yet) received standard designations. These include:

Boeing GBI (Ground-Based Interceptor). The missile component of the GMD (Ground-Based Midcourse Defense) segment of the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

(Ground-Based Interceptor). The missile component of the (Ground-Based Midcourse Defense) segment of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Lockheed Martin M30/M31 GMLRS Rocket (Guided MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) rocket). Guided derivative of the M26 MLRS rocket.

Rocket (Guided MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) rocket). Guided derivative of the M26 MLRS rocket. Lockheed Martin (Loral) Patriot PAC-3 . Hit-to-kill anti-ballistic missile, originally known as ERINT (Extended Range Interceptor).

. Hit-to-kill anti-ballistic missile, originally known as (Extended Range Interceptor). Martin Marietta Sprint . Short-Range ABM component of Safeguard system. Note: Although several sources explicitly say, that the Sprint never received an LIM designation, one of the designations XLIM-99A and XLIM-100A might have been reserved for the Sprint (see note 9 above).

. Short-Range ABM component of system. Although several sources explicitly say, that the never received an LIM designation, one of the designations and might have been reserved for the (see note 9 above). Matra/BAe Rapier (British surface-to-air missile). The US bought Rapier systems for the air defense of USAF bases in the UK, but the systems were operated by Royal Air Force personnel. That was probably the reason why Rapier didn't receive a DOD MIM-n designation.

There are numerous drones, targets and UAVs, which were funded and/or procured by the U.S. military services, but did not receive standard designations. The following list includes only those vehicles, which were at least briefly used in an operational role. There were many more research and test vehicles, most of which are listed in the Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4.

Advanced Ceramics Research Silver Fox . Small light-weight reconnaissance and surveillance UAV for the U.S. Marine Corps.

. Small light-weight reconnaissance and surveillance UAV for the U.S. Marine Corps. BAI XPV-1 Tern . Tactical UAV for U.S. Navy special forces.



. Tactical UAV for U.S. Navy special forces. GAF Jindivik . Australian full-scale target briefly used by the U.S. Navy.

. Australian full-scale target briefly used by the U.S. Navy. Boeing/Zvezda-Strela MA-31 SSST (Supersonic Sea Skimming Target). A target missile derived from the Russian Zvezda-Strela Kh-31 anti-ship missile (AS-17 Krypton ), used by the Navy as an interim target.

(Supersonic Sea Skimming Target). A target missile derived from the Russian Zvezda-Strela Kh-31 anti-ship missile (AS-17 ), used by the Navy as an interim target. Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle . Long-endurance surveillance mini-UAV used by thr USMC.

. Long-endurance surveillance mini-UAV used by thr USMC. Developmental Sciences R4E-40 SkyEye . Multi-mission UAV briefly used by the U.S. Army.

. Multi-mission UAV briefly used by the U.S. Army. General Atomics I-Gnat . Optionally armed multi-mission UAV used by U.S. Army.

. Optionally armed multi-mission UAV used by U.S. Army. Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk . Reconnaissance mini-UAV for the USAF base security forces.

. Reconnaissance mini-UAV for the USAF base security forces. Navmar XPV-2 Mako. Surveillance UAV for special forces.



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:

Space Vector Aries . Tactical ballistic missile target based on Minuteman I 2nd stage.

. Tactical ballistic missile target based on 2nd stage. Coleman Aerospace Hera . Tactical ballistic missile target based on Minuteman II 2nd and 3rd stages.

. Tactical ballistic missile target based on 2nd and 3rd stages. Coleman Aerospace SRALT (Short-Range Air-Launch Target). Single-stage air-launched ballistic missile target.

(Short-Range Air-Launch Target). Single-stage air-launched ballistic missile target. Orbital Sciences SR19-SR19. Ballistic missile target consisting of two Minuteman II 2nd stage motors.

2nd stage motors. Orbital Sciences Storm I / Storm II . Theater ballistic missile targets.

/ . Theater ballistic missile targets. Sandia STARS (Strategic Target System). Target payload booster based on Polaris A-3 rocket motors.

Currently, there are several missiles under development, which have not yet received a numerical designation. Missile programs, which are still in the planning phase, are not included in the following list.

Lockheed Martin LAM (Loitering Attack Missile). Part of the U.S. Army's NetFires NLOS-LS (Non-Line-Of-Sight Launch System).

(Loitering Attack Missile). Part of the U.S. Army's NLOS-LS (Non-Line-Of-Sight Launch System). Lockheed Martin THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). Short/medium-range anti-ballistic missile interceptor.

(Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). Short/medium-range anti-ballistic missile interceptor. NAWC/DRS Spike . Small shoulder-launched missile against unarmoured ground targets.

. Small shoulder-launched missile against unarmoured ground targets. ONR/Titan Affordable Weapon . Navy-sponsored low-cost cruise missile.

. Navy-sponsored low-cost cruise missile. Raytheon PAM (Precision Attack Missile). Part of the U.S. Army's NetFires NLOS-LS (Non-Line-Of-Sight Launch System).

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:

Atlantic Research Athena . USAF/Army missile to test reentry vehicles.

. USAF/Army missile to test reentry vehicles. Boeing HIBEX (High-g Boost Experiment). A close range ABM test missile with even higher acceleration than Sprint .

(High-g Boost Experiment). A close range ABM test missile with even higher acceleration than . Lockheed HOE (Homing Overlay Experiment). Army demonstrator for hit-to-kill ABM technology.

(Homing Overlay Experiment). Army demonstrator for hit-to-kill ABM technology. LTV FLAGE (Flexible Leight-Weight Agile Guidance Experiment). Demonstrator for hit-to-kill ABM technology.

(Flexible Leight-Weight Agile Guidance Experiment). Demonstrator for hit-to-kill ABM technology. LTV ALVRJ (Advanced Low-Volume Ramjet). Test vehicle for integrated rocket/ramjet technology.

(Advanced Low-Volume Ramjet). Test vehicle for integrated rocket/ramjet technology. Marquardt LASRM (Low Altitude Short Range Missile). A test missile for the IRR (Integrated Rocket/Ramjet) propulsion system of the planned ASALM (Advanced Strategic Air-Launched Missile).

There are numerous missile programs, which reached the flight-test stage but never received a numerical designation. These include:

Ford SIAM (Self Initiated Anti-Aircraft Missile; Navy project)

(Self Initiated Anti-Aircraft Missile; Navy project) Hughes Brazo / Pave Arm (air-to-air anti-radar missile; Navy/Air Force project)

(air-to-air anti-radar missile; Navy/Air Force project) Lockheed ERIS (Exoatmospheric Re-entry Vehicle Interceptor System; ABM missile project)

(Exoatmospheric Re-entry Vehicle Interceptor System; ABM missile project) Lockheed Senior Prom (stealth cruise missile; Air Force project)

(stealth cruise missile; Air Force project) Martin Marietta/McDonnell Douglas ASALM (Advanced Strategic Air-Launched Missile; Air Force project)

(Advanced Strategic Air-Launched Missile; Air Force project) McDonnell Douglas HEDI (High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor; ABM missile project)

(High Endoatmospheric Defense Interceptor; ABM missile project) Shorts Starstreak (short-range anti-aircraft missile). The air-launched version ATASK (Air-To-Air Starstreak) was evaluated by the Army as an AAM for helicopters.

(short-range anti-aircraft missile). The air-launched version (Air-To-Air Starstreak) was evaluated by the Army as an AAM for helicopters. Vought HVM (Hyper-Velocity Missile; Air Force anti-armour missile project)

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".

Raytheon ERGM (Extended Range Guided Munition), designated "5 Inch Rocket Assisted Projectile, MK 151" (U.S. Navy program)

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.:

Lockheed Martin LOCAAS (Low-Cost Autonomous Attack Subsystem). This is a smart submunition currently under development, which could also be regarded as a guided missile of its own. So far, submunitions have usually received BLU- n /B designations, but guided self-propelled submunitions are actually a fairly new concept for which no really appropriate designation categories exist. The GBU (Guided Bomb) designator does not explicitly exclude submunitions, so a GBU- n /B designation could be assigned.

(Low-Cost Autonomous Attack Subsystem). This is a smart submunition currently under development, which could also be regarded as a guided missile of its own. So far, submunitions have usually received BLU- /B designations, but guided self-propelled submunitions are actually a fairly new concept for which no really appropriate designation categories exist. The GBU (Guided Bomb) designator does not explicitly exclude submunitions, so a GBU- /B designation could be assigned. Martin Marietta M712 Copperhead (a guided cannon-launched 155mm projectile). The Copperhead has no propulsion of its own, and is regarded as a "projectile" and not a "missile" by the Army. Therefore it received number M712 in the Army's general series for gun projectiles.

2.2 Rockets

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. Most likely, it was either "Rocket, Chaff" or "Rocket, Decoy".

Undesignated Rockets

Many small rockets, especially infantry rockets and rockets launched from airborne multi-tube launchers, have not received MDS designations. These include:

2.3 Probes

Designation Manufacturer Name (Remarks) Previous Designations PWN-1A JPL Loki-Dart RM-82 PWN-2A Aerojet General Aerobee-Hi RM-84 PWN-3A University of Michigan/NACA Nike-Cajun RM-85 PWN-4A University of Michigan Exos RM-86 PWN-5A Cooper Development Rocksonde 200 RM-88 PWN-6A/B Atlantic Research Kitty (Arcas) PWN-7A 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 PWN-11A Space Data Super Loki Datasonde PWN-12A Space Data Super Loki ROBIN

2.4 Boosters

Designation Manufacturer Name (Remarks) SB-1A General Dynamics Atlas E SB-2A/B Lockheed Martin (General Dynamics) Atlas II (SB-2A)

Atlas IIA/AS (SB-2B) SB-3A Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) Delta II SB-4A Martin Marietta Titan II SB-5A/B Lockheed Martin Titan IV (SB-5A)

Titan IV B (SB-5B) SB-6A Martin Marietta Titan 34D SSB-7A 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)) SSB-9A McDonnell Douglas PAM D-II (Payload Assist Module D-II; used with SB-3A Delta II) SSB-10A Martin Marietta Transtage (used with SB-6A Titan 34D) ASB-11A Orbital Sciences Pegasus

Undesignated Boosters

The following launch vehicles have not (yet) received SB-n designations:

Boeing Delta 4 EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle)

EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) Lockheed Martin Atlas III

Lockheed Martin Atlas V EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle)

2.5 Satellites

Notes:

1. The S-10 slot in the satellite series was reused for unknown reasons. The "XSS" prefix of the MDS designation has since been used as an acronym with various interpretations ("Experimental Small Satellite", "Experimental Spacecraft System", "Experimental Satellite System"). 2. Other than XSS-10A, the designations of the XSS-11 and XSS-12 follow-on programs are not official MDS designators. However, because of the relatively wide-spread use of the XSS-11 and -12 labels, the numbers S-11 and -12 have not been assigned to other satellite programs to avoid confusion. It is quite possible that "XSS-11A" and "XSS-12A" will be retroactively allocated as official MDS designations to the XSS-11/12 programs. 3. The design number 13 has been skipped, because that number is not used anymore in any MDS designations (triskaidekaphobia). 4. The designation LS-15A might refer to the satellites of the SBSS (Space-Based Space Surveillance) system, but this is unconfirmed.

Undesignated Satellites

Many military satellite systems, including all reconnaissance and intelligence satellites, never received MDS designations. The following list does not include satellites, which were already out of service, when the designation series for satellites was introduced in 1988/89.

Ball Aerospace GFO (GeoSat Follow-On) meteorological/oceanographic satellite (Navy)

(GeoSat Follow-On) meteorological/oceanographic satellite (Navy) Boeing ARGOS (Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite) research satellite (USAF)

(Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite) research satellite (USAF) Boeing TRUMPET electronic intelligence satellite (NRO/NSA)

electronic intelligence satellite (NRO/NSA) E-Systems CHALET/VORTEX communications intelligence satellite (USAF)

communications intelligence satellite (USAF) Hughes MERCURY (Advanced VORTEX ) signals intelligence satellite (USAF)

(Advanced ) signals intelligence satellite (USAF) Hughes SDS-1 (Satellite Data System 1) communications satellite (USAF)

(Satellite Data System 1) communications satellite (USAF) Hughes SDS-2 (Satellite Data System 2) communications satellite (USAF)

(Satellite Data System 2) communications satellite (USAF) Hughes Syncom IV communications satellite for LEASAT (Leased Satellite) program (Navy)

communications satellite for (Leased Satellite) program (Navy) Hughes UFO (Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On) satellite (Navy)

(Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On) satellite (Navy) Lockheed Martin LACROSSE SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery intelligence satellite (NRO?)

SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery intelligence satellite (NRO?) Lockheed Martin SBIRS High (Space-Based Infrared System) satellite (USAF)

(Space-Based Infrared System) satellite (USAF) Lockheed Martin SB-WASS (Space-Based Wide Area Surveillance System) surveillance satellite (Navy)

(Space-Based Wide Area Surveillance System) surveillance satellite (Navy) TRW FLTSATCOM (Fleet Satellite Communications System) satellite (Navy)

(Fleet Satellite Communications System) satellite (Navy) TRW/Hughes JUMPSEAT electronic intelligence satellite (USAF/NSA)

electronic intelligence satellite (USAF/NSA) TRW/Lockheed KH-11 KENNAN/CRYSTAL imagery intelligence satellite (NRO)

imagery intelligence satellite (NRO) TRW/Lockheed KH-12(?) ("Improved CRYSTAL") imagery intelligence satellite (NRO)

"8X" Enhanced Imaging System (KH-13??) imagery intelligence satellite (NRO)

AFP-731 (" MISTY ") experimental low observables ("stealth") reconnaissance satellite (USAF/NRO??)

") experimental low observables ("stealth") reconnaissance satellite (USAF/NRO??) CAPRICORN infrared early-warning satellite (NRO)

3 Sources

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

Last Updated: 30 March 2020