Japanese Military Aircraft Designations (after 1945)

Copyright © 2001-2004 Andreas Parsch

1 Japanese Aircraft Designation System

2 Designation Listing

3 Missiles

4 Serial Number System

1 Japanese Aircraft Designation System

Japan designates its aircraft in a way very similar to the U.S. A type letter designating the primary mission of the aircraft is followed by a sequential number. The following type letters are used:

• C - Cargo
• E - Special Electronic Mission
• F - Fighter
• H - Helicopter
• O - Observation
• S - Search & Rescue (?)
• T - Trainer
• U - Utility

Only types of Japanese origin receive designations in the appropriate sequence. Others use either the orginal U.S. designation, the manufacturer's designation, or a designation composed of a type letter and a number derived from the manufacturer's designation. Examples for the latter are the U-4 (Gulfstream IV) and U-36A (Learjet 36).

The type letters can also be used as prefixes to indicate a modified mission.

2 Designation Listing

This listing contains only Japanese aircraft, which get numbers in the proper sequence.

C - Cargo

F - Fighter

H - Helicopter

S - Search & Rescue

T - Trainer

3 Missiles

The Japanese Military uses a very simple designation system for indegeniuos missiles. A 3-letter indicator for the missile type is followed by a sequential number. Each missile type uses its own sequence. Type designators are:

• AAM - Air-to-Air Missile
• ASM - Air-to-Surface Missile
• ATM - Anti-Tank Missile
• SAM - Surface-to-Air Missile
• SSM - Surface-to-Surface Missile

When entering operational service, most missiles get an additional "Type nn" designation, with nn being the last two digits of the year when the missile entered service (e.g. "Type 90" for the AAM-3, which became operational in 1990). These type designations are often used instead of the xxM numbers. Anti-tank missiles also have a "KAM" industrial designation.

4 Serial Number System

[This section was contributed by Jos Heyman.]

Air Force

Aircraft of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) carry a six digit serial, such as Lockheed Hercules 45-1073. In this serial

• The first digit is the last digit of the year in which the aircraft was delivered, eg. 45-1073 was delivered in December 1984.
• The second digit is the type of the aircraft, eg 45-1073 is a type 5 = Lockheed Hercules.
• The third digit indicates the role of the aircraft, eg 45-1073 is a role 1 = transport aircraft.
• The last three digits is a sequence number, eg 45-1073 is the third aircraft in the range 071 to 086 which was used for Hercules aircraft.

Navy

The aircraft of the Japanese Marine Self Defense Force (JMSDF) carry a four digital serial, such as Grumman UF-2 Albatross 9051. In this serial

• The first digit indicates the role of the aircraft, eg 9051 was a utility/transport aircraft.
• The last three digits is a sequence number, eg 9051 was the first of six aircraft in the 51 to 56 range which was used for Albatross aircraft.

Army

Aircraft of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) carry a five digit serial numbers on the nose and the last four digits preceded by JG- on the tail, such as 41501 (JG-1501), a Fuji-Bell UH-1B. In this serial

• The first digit indicates the role of the aircraft, eg 41501 was a utility transport helicopter.
• The last four digits is a sequence number, eg 41501 was the first aircraft in the 1501 to 1590 range which was used for Fuji-Bell UH-1B aircraft.

Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch

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