Types of military aircraft used by the United States
This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre-production, and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the list of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with "X" and are often unnamed (note that these are not the same as the experimental X-planes, which are not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production models are usually prefixed with "Y".
The United States military employs a designation and naming system to provide identifications to all aircraft types. Until 1962, the United States Army, United States Air Force (formerly Army Air Force), and United States Navy all maintained separate systems. In September 1962,[1] these were unified into a single system heavily reflecting the Air Force method. For more complete information on the workings of this system, refer to United States Department of Defense Aerospace Vehicle Designations.
This list does not include aircraft used by the U.S. military services prior to the establishment of a numerical designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (1909–1919). It also does not include aircraft designated under the pre-1962 United States Navy designation system. For these aircraft, see List of military aircraft of the United States (naval).
Prior to 1919
Prior to 1919, all planes flown by the Army Air Service and the Navy were referred to by the designation given to them by their manufacturer. A variety of both domestic and foreign types were operated, with the latter being the primary front-line types during the First World War.
Army Air Service, 1919–1924
In September 1919, the Army Air Service decided that it needed an organized designation sequence, and adopted fifteen classifications, designated by Roman numerals. Several other unnumbered designations were added later. Each designation was assigned an abbreviation, and each design a number within that abbreviation. Variants were designated by alphabetically appending letters to the design number.
Type O: Foreign-Built Pursuit Aircraft
Type I: Pursuit, water-cooled
Type II: Pursuit, night
Type III: Pursuit, air-cooled
Type IV: Pursuit, ground attack, 1922
Type V: Two-seat pursuit
- TP-1 – Engineering Division
Type VI: Ground attack, 1920–1922
Type VII: Infantry liaison
Type VIII: Night observation
Type IX: Artillery observation
Type X: Corps observation
- CO-1 – Engineering Division
- CO-2 – Engineering Division
- CO-3 – Engineering Division
- CO-4 – Atlantic
- CO-5 – Engineering Division
- CO-6 – Engineering Division
- CO-7 – Boeing
- CO-8 – Atlantic
Type XI: Day bombardment
Type XII: Night bombardment, short range
Type XIII: Night bombardment, long range
Type XIV: Trainer, air-cooled
Type XV: Trainer, water-cooled
Ambulance, 1919–1924
Messenger
Pursuit, special
Racer
Seaplane
Transport
Lighter-than-air craft
- AC-1 — designed for "long flights and cross-country work", this was a 169 foot long, 180,000 cubic foot buoyancy craft which had one of its earliest long flights in May 1923.[2]
- RN-1 — designated "Zodiac", this was a semi-rigid dirigible, 262.5 feet long with a 360,000 cubic foot buoyancy volume.[3]
Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force 1924–1962
Attack, 1924–1948
Bomber
Until 1926, the Army Air Service had three sequences for bombers. Light bombers were indicated by the LB- prefix, medium bombers by the B- prefix, and heavy bombers by the HB- prefix. In 1926, the three-category system was scrapped and all bombers subsequently built were placed in the B- sequence.
Light Bomber, 1924–1926
Medium Bomber, 1924–1926
Heavy Bomber, 1924–1926
- HB-1 – Huff-Daland
- HB-2 – Atlantic/Fokker
- HB-3 – Huff-Daland
Unified bomber sequence, 1926–1962
- Beginning with #69, the "M-" (missile) and "B-" (bomber) series diverged. The missiles designated M-69 to M-92, some of which are incorrectly labeled as "formerly designated B-xx" in some sources, never used a "B-" series designation.
Bomber, long range, 1935–1936
A short-lived designation used from 1935–1936 to refer to three long-range bomber projects commissioned by the Army Air Corps. Most of the bombers were night bombers.
Cargo, 1924–1962
Douglas C-1 refueling Fokker C-2
Drone
Aerial Target
1922–1935
- GL-1 Unmanned Coastal Artillery Target Glider - McCook Field Engineering Section
- GL-2 Manned Aerial Target Glider - McCook Field Engineering Section
- GL-3 Unmanned Aerial Target Glider (also known as "G-3") - McCook Field Engineering Section
1940–1941
1942–1948
Aerial Target (Model Airplane), 1942–1948
Controllable bomb, 1942–1945
Target Control, 1942–1948
Unified sequence, 1948–1962
Glider
Assault Glider, 1942–1944
Bomb Glider, 1942–1944
Cargo Glider, 1941–1948
Fuel Glider, 1930–1948
Powered Glider, 1943–1948
Training Glider, 1941–1948
Unified sequence, 1948–1955
Sailplane, 1960–1962
Gyroplane, 1935–1939
Liaison, 1942–1962
Pursuit, 1924-1948/Fighter, 1948–1962
Designated P- for "pursuit" until June 1948, nine months after the United States Air Force was founded. After this, all P- designations were changed to F- ("fighter"), but the original numbers were retained.[6]
Fighter, Multiplace
Pursuit, Biplace
Observation
Observation, 1924–1942
Observation amphibian, 1925–1948
Reconnaissance
Photographic reconnaissance, 1930–1948 / Reconnaissance, 1948–1962
Reconnaissance-strike, 1960–1962
Both of the following aircraft are numbered in the B- (bomber) sequence.
- RS-70 Valkyrie – proposed reconnaissance variant of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie
- RS-71 Blackbird – early designation of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
Rotary wing 1941–1948 and helicopter 1948–1962
In 1941, the category letter R- was allotted for "rotary wing" aircraft, and this designation was used until the founding of the United States Air Force in 1947, at which point the category letter was changed to H-, for "helicopter". However, the original numbering sequence was retained.
Supersonic/special test, 1946–1948
Trainer
Advanced Trainer, 1925–1948
Basic Combat, 1936–1940
Basic Trainer, 1930–1948
Primary Trainer, 1925–1948
Army, 1956–1962
In 1956, the U.S. Army adopted a new, and relatively simple, designation system for its aviation assets. Aircraft were divided into three different types – 'A' for fixed-wing aircraft, 'H' for helicopters, or 'V' for V/STOL aircraft, and then were given a mission modifier, which, unlike the USAF system, came after the type code: 'C' for transports, 'O' for observation and reconnaissance aircraft, 'U' for utility types, and 'Z' for experimental aircraft. Aircraft types designated in this system were numbered sequentially.[10]
Airplane, Cargo, 1956–1962
Airplane, Observation, 1956–1962
Flying Platform, 1955–1956
- HO-1 Pawnee – Hiller (redesignated as VZ-1 in 1956)
- HO-2 – de Lackner Helicopters (redesignated as HZ-1 in 1956)
Helicopter, Cargo, 1956–1962
Helicopter, Observation, 1956–1962
Helicopter, Utility, 1956–1962
Helicopter, Experimental, 1956–1962
Vertical Takeoff and Landing Research, 1956–1962
Unified System, 1962–present
A: Attack aircraft (for tactical air-to-surface mission)
Non-sequential designations
B: Bomber (for strategic air-to-surface mission)
Non-sequential designation
C: Transport (Cargo)
Revived 1924-1962 sequence (2005-present)
Non-sequential designations
- KC-767 - Boeing KC-767 (Out of sequence designation selected by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) initially to replace older KC-135Es. In December 2003, the contract was frozen and later canceled due to corruption allegations).
- UC-880 – Convair (Out of sequence designation used for a single Convair 880 converted to a tanker to support trials from the NATC[13])
D: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control segment
E: Special electronic installation
F: Fighter
Non-sequential designations
Other designations
Designations YF-110, YF-112 through YF-116, and YF-118 were captured foreign aircraft used for evaluation and aggressor training. They were given designations in sequence—based on chronology—with "black" project aircraft, continuing the pre-1962 F series.[14][15]
G: Glider
H: Helicopter
Unlike most other categories of aircraft, the introduction of the tri-service designation system in 1962 did not result in a wholesale redesignation of helicopters. While six types received new designations in the unified, "re-started" sequence, the original "H-" series of designations that started in 1948 was also continued, and no further types of rotorcraft have been designated in the "post-1962" system.
Continuation of 1948 sequence
Non-sequential designations
K: Tanker (dropped between 1977 and 1985)
No specialised types have been acquired to receive a stand-alone 'K for Tanker' designation; for aircraft modified for use as tankers, see the parent aircraft in the proper sequence.
L: Laser-equipped
O: Observation (Forward Air Control)
P: Maritime patrol
Q: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Non-sequential designations
R: Reconnaissance
S: Anti-submarine warfare
S: Spaceplane
The only designation in the "Spaceplane" series, the MS-1A shares a designation letter with the anti-submarine warfare category, and is perhaps unique among MDS identifiers as being assigned to a future, and currently not wholly defined, concept, as opposed to a specific project.[12][19]
T: Trainer
Despite the adoption of the unified Mission Designation System in 1962, only two aircraft were designated in the new series, both former Navy types. The old series continued in use until 1990, at which point a new series was started over at T-1, with the previous T-2 still being in use.
However, the old series has still seen new designations being assigned. The next designation available in the 'T' series is T-54 or T-8, depending on which series is continued.
1948–present designations
1962 Sequence
1990 Sequence
U: Utility
V: Vertical take-off/short take-off and landing (VTOL/STOL)
X: Special research
In addition to aircraft intended to support military operations, the unified system includes experimental craft designed to push the boundaries of aeronautical and aerospace knowledge. These aircraft are designated in the "X-series", which led them to become known as "X-planes". Only those with military sponsors are listed here.
- X-1 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NACA
- X-2 "Starbuster" – Bell Aircraft, USAF
- X-3 Stiletto – Douglas Aircraft, USAF, NACA
- X-4 Bantam – Northrop, USAF, NACA
- X-5 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NACA
- X-6 – Convair, USAF, AEC
- X-7 "Flying Stove Pipe" – Lockheed, Tri-service
- X-8 Aerobee – Aerojet, NACA, USAF, USN
- X-9 Shrike – Bell Aircraft, USAF
- X-10 – North American Aviation, USAF
- X-11 – Convair, USAF
- X-12 – Convair, USAF
- X-13 Vertijet – Ryan Aeronautical, USAF, USN
- X-14 – Bell Aircraft, USAF, NASA
- X-15 – North American Aviation, USAF, NASA
- X-16 – Bell Aircraft, USAF
- X-17 – Lockheed
- X-18 – Hiller Aircraft
- X-19 – Curtiss-Wright, Tri-service
- X-20 Dyna-Soar – Boeing, USAF
- X-21 – Northrop, USAF
- X-22 – Bell Aircraft, Tri-service
- X-23 PRIME – Martin Marietta, USAF (Note: Designation never officially assigned.[22])
- X-24 – Martin Marietta, USAF, NASA
- X-25 – Bensen, USAF
- X-26 Frigate – Schweizer, DARPA, US Army, USN
- X-27 – Lockheed
- X-28 Sea Skimmer – Osprey Aircraft, USN
- X-29 – Grumman, DARPA, USAF, NASA
- X-30 NASP – Rockwell, NASA, DARPA, USAF
- X-31 – Rockwell-MBB
- X-32 – Boeing, USAF, USN, RAF
- X-35 – Lockheed Martin, USAF, USN, RAF
- X-36 - McDonnell Douglas, NASA
- X-37 – Boeing, USAF, NASA
- X-39 – Unknown, USAF (Note: Designation never officially assigned.[22])
- X-40 – Boeing, USAF, NASA
- X-41 – Unknown, USAF
- X-42 – Unknown, USAF
- X-44 MANTA – Lockheed Martin, USAF, NASA
- X-45 – Boeing, DARPA, USAF
- X-46 – Boeing, DARPA, USN
- X-47A/X-47B – Northrop Grumman, DARPA, USN
- X-48 – Boeing, NASA
- X-49 Speedhawk – Piasecki Aircraft, US Army
- X-50 Dragonfly – Boeing, DARPA
- X-51 Waverider – Boeing, USAF
- X-53 – Boeing Phantom Works, NASA, USAF
- X-55 – Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, USAF
- X-56 – Lockheed Martin, USAF, NASA
- X-57 - NASA
- X-59 - Lockheed Martin, NASA
- X-60 - Generation Orbit Launch Services
- X-61 - Dynetics, DARPA
Z: Lighter-than-air
