Swedish Military Aircraft Designations
HTML formatting Copyright © 2001-2006 Andreas Parsch
Designation listings based on lists compiled by Urban Fredriksson
1 Swedish Aircraft Designation System
3 Sources and Additional Information
From its creation in 1926, the Swedish Air Force used an aircraft designation similar in concept to the current U.S. system, using type letters, model numbers, and series letters. When the Army and Navy obtained own aircraft after 1926 (mostly helicopters, but including a few fixed-wing aircraft), they also used this designation system.
Examples: | B | 3 | A | |
Trp | 3 | |||
J | 35 | B | ||
Sk | 35 | C | ||
(1) | (2) | (3) |
The basic designation consists of mission/type letter(s) (1) and a number (2). Initially, each mission/type code used a separate model number series (as in the current U.S. system). However, this was changed in 1940, when it was decided that each basic type should receive a unique number regardless of its mission. This is similar to the current Canadian system. Aircraft of the same basic type modified for different missions use the same number, prefixed by the appropriate mission letter. Multimission aircraft use several mission letters. Note that there is no dash between the mission letter(s) and the model number.
Initially, the numbers were assigned to reflect manufacturers' or U.S. military designations (e.g. AT-16 = Sk 16, C-45 = Tp 45, Saab 91 = Tp 91). Types within the same braod category (like combat, transport, training, etc.) were then often given the next number, which resulted in several non-overlapping "sequences" of designations. The gaps between these sequences are of no special significance. Numbers from 801 and up were used for leased aircraft. The only "real" designation in this range, however, is the Fpl 801.
The following mission/type codes are defined:
Note: Multiletter type codes (Fpl, Hkp, Sk, Tp) are now usually written in all capitals (FPL, HKP, SK, TP). This new spelling was apparently introduced around 1964. For the sake of consistency, I use the mixed-case prefixes for all designations in this document.
Gliders were numbered in a special series, using numbers 101 and up, and the following prefixes:
The suffix letter (3) is optional and indicates a modification. The letters are assigned alphabetically. Originally, the first version used no suffix letter, the first modification used "A", etc. Since the J28, the standard pratice is to add suffixes as needed. If there is only a single version of a type, it uses no suffix, but when several variants are planned or procured from the start, the first gets suffix "A", the second "B", etc. If no suffix was initially used, and additional variants are added to the inventory, the new versions receive suffixes "B", "C", etc. The original un-suffixed version is sometimes (but not always, possibly depending on whether it has already been operational or not) redesignated with an "A" suffix.
A few special suffixes were used on some early types to designate different landing gear configurations:
The listings are provided in two parts. The first listings include the pre-1940 designations, and are divided into the various mission/type series.
The post-1940 designations are provided in a single list, reflecting the practice of using a unique number for each basic aircraft type. Helicopters are still listed separately, because their numbering sequence started at 1, and doesn't integrate well into the aeroplane model number series.
A - Attack
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
A 1 | FVM/Phönix | C.I E2 |
B - Bomb (Bomber)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
B 1 | Fiat | BR |
B 2 | Fiat | BR.I |
B 3 | Junkers | Ju 86K-1; variants include B 3A (Ju 86K-4), B 3B (Ju 86K-5), B 3C (Junkers/Saab Ju 86K-13), B 3C-2 (modified B 3A/B) and B 3D (modified B 3C) |
B 4 | Hawker | Hart; originally designated S 7; variant B 4A (originally S 7A) built by ASJA/CVM/Götaverken |
B 5 | Northrop | 8A-1; variants include B 5A and Saab/Northrop B 5B/C |
B 6 | Republic | Guardsman |
B 7 | Fokker | G.Ib; never delivered, would have been redesignated B 26 |
B 8 | Saab | L-10; became B 17 in 1940 |
J - Jakt (Fighter)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
J 1 | FVM/Phönixwerke | based on D.II or D.III |
J 2 | Nieuport-Delage | ND-29C-1 |
J 3 | Fokker | C.VD; variants include J 3A and J 3B (built by CVM); redesignated as S 6 (J 3B) and S 6A (J 3/3A) in 1931 |
J 4 | Heinkel/Svenska Aero | HD 19 |
J 5 | Svenska Aero | Jaktfalken |
J 6 | Svenska Aero | Jaktfalk I (J 6) and II (J 6A/B) |
J 7 | Bristol | Bulldog II/IIA |
J 8 | Gloster | Gladiator I (J 8) and II (J 8A) |
J 9 | Seversky/Republic | EP-106 |
J 10 | Vultee | Vanguard 48C-1; never delivered |
J 11 | Fiat | CR.42bis Falco |
J 12 | Reggiane | Re 2000; became J 20 in 1940 |
Ö - Övning (Advanced Trainer)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
Ö 1 | FVM/CFM | Tummalisa |
Ö 2 | FVM | Albatros C.I |
Ö 3 | Gloster | Grouse Mk II |
Ö 4 | FVM/Phönix | C.I E1 Dront |
Ö 5 | FVM/Phönix | C.I E3 Dront |
Ö 6 | Bristol | F.2B Fighter |
Ö 7 | SvA | SA-10 Piraten |
Ö 8 | SvA | SA-13 Övningsfalken |
Ö 9 | ASJA | Typ 2 |
Ö 10 | TB; not built |
P - Prov (Trials, Prototypes and Other)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
P 1 | Sparmann | S 1-A "Sparmannjagare" |
P 2 | Focke-Wulf | FW 44; became Sk 12 in 1937 |
P 3 | Sparmann | E4; not built |
P 4 | Fieseler | Fi 156K-1; became S 14 in 1940 |
P 5 | Handley Page | Hampden Mk I |
P 6 | Focke-Wulf | Fw 58KJ-1/Fw 58KO-1/Fw 58KO-2 Weihe |
P 7 | Saab | L-10-2 (P 7A; prototype for B 17A), L-10-1 (P 7B; prototype for B 17B) |
P 8 | Saab | L-11 (Saab 18); prototype for B 18 |
P 8A | AFF/ASJA | G.1; not built |
P 8B | Götaverken | GP 8; not built |
P 9A | Saab | L-12; became P 19 and later J 19; not built |
P 9B | Götaverken | GP 9; not built |
S - Spaning (Reconnaissance)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
S 1 | CVM | S 21/S 25 |
S 2 | Caspar/Sv.Aero/TDS | Heinkel S.I Hansa Brandenburg |
S 3 | Svenska Aero/CFS | Heinkel S.II Hansa Brandenburg |
S 4 | Heinkel | HE 4 Hansa |
S 5 | Svenska Aero | HE 5 Hansa; variants include S 5A/B (Sv.Aero/CFV HE 5/t), S 5B (CVV He 5/t) and S 5C/D (CVV He 5/t TB) |
S 6 | Fokker/CVM | C.VE (ex J 3B); variants include S 6A (Fokker/CVM C.VD; ex J 3/3A) and S 6B (CVM C.VE) |
S 7 | Hawker | Hart (became B 4); S 7A (became B 4A) variant built by ASJA/CVM |
S 8 | Svenska Aero/ASJA | SA 15; cancelled |
S 9 | Hawker | Osprey |
S 10 | Breguet | 694; never delivered |
S 11 | Dornier | Do 215; never delivered |
S 12 | Heinkel | He 114B-1 |
S 13 | Fokker | G.I; never delivered, would have been redesignated S 26 |
S 14 | Fieseler | Fi 156K-1 Storch; variants include S 14A (Fi 156C) and S 14B (Fi 156C-3/Trop) |
S 15 | Saab | L-10 (Saab 17); became S 17 in 1940 |
Sk - Skol (Trainer)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
Sk 1 | Albatros | Model 120, B.IIa |
Sk 2 | Friedrichshafen/TDS | FF 33J |
Sk 3 | Avro | 504K |
Sk 4 | Heinkel/Svenska Aero | HD 24; variants include Sk 4A/B (modified Sk 4) |
Sk 5 | Heinkel | HD 35 |
Sk 6 | Heinkel | HD 36; variant Sk 6A built by CFM |
Sk 7 | DeHavilland | D.H.60X/M Cirrus/Gipsy Moth |
Sk 8 | Svenska Aero | SA-12 Skolfalken |
Sk 9 | DeHavilland | D.H.60T Moth Trainer |
Sk 10 | ASJA | RK 26 Tiger-Schwalbe |
Sk 11 | DeHavilland/ASJA | D.H.82 Tiger Moth; variants include Sk 11A (D.H.82A) |
Sk 12 | Focke-Wulf/ASJA/CVV | Fw 44J Stieglitz |
(Sk 13) | Not assigned | |
Sk 14 | North American/Saab | NA-16-4M; variants include Sk 14A and SK 14N (rebuilt with nosewheel) |
Sk 15 | Klemm | Kl 35B/D; variants include Sk 15A/B (Kl 35D) and Sk 15C (Kl 35DW) |
Sk 16 | North American | Texan/Harvard; details in the post-1940 table, q.v. |
T - Torped (Torpedo)
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
T 1 | Heinkel | HD 16 |
T 2 | Heinkel | He 115A-2 |
Tp - Transport
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
Trp 1 | Junkers/Flygindustri | Ju F 13fe/F 13de |
Trp 2 | Junkers/Flygindustri | Ju W 33g; variants include Trp 2A (Ju W 34h) |
Trp 3 | DeHavilland | D.H.90 Dragonfly |
Trp 4 | Beechcraft | 18R |
Tp 5 | Junkers | Ju 52/3m ci, Ju 52/3m vai |
Tp 6 | Fairchild | Model 24 De Luxe |
Tp 7 | Miles | M 3A Falcon Major |
Tp 8 | Waco | UIC-4; variants include Tp 8A (ZQC-6) |
Trp 9 | ASJA | Viking II; never ordered, number reused |
Tp 9 | Junkers | Ju 86Z-7 |
Tp 10 | Fokker | F.VIII |
Aeroplanes
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
B/S/T/Tp 16 | Caproni | Ca 313S; variants include B 16A (became S 16A), S 16A (ex B 16A), S 16B (ex T 16A), T 16A (became S 16B) and Tp 16A (ex S 16A) |
Sk 16 | North American | Texan/Harvard; variants include Sk 16A (AT-16), Sk 16B (T-6, BC-1A, SNJ) and Sk 16C (SNJ-2); number "16" reused as continuation of pre-1940 Sk-series and/or to keep number from "AT-16" designation |
B/S 17 | Saab | L-10 (Saab 17); variants include B 17A/B/C, S 17BL (ex B 17B) and S 17BS (ex S 17BL) |
B/S/T 18 | Saab | Saab 18; variants include B 18A/B, S 18A (rebuilt B 18A) and T 18B |
J 19 | Saab | L-12; not built |
J 20 | Reggiane | Re 2000 Falco; originally designated J 12 |
A/J 21 | Saab | Saab 21; variants include J 21A-1, J 21A-2, A 21A-3 and J 21B |
A 21R | Saab | Saab 21R; variants include A 21RA (originally designated J 21R) and A 21RB |
J/S 22 | FFVS | FFVS 22; variants include P 22 (prototypes), J 22-1/2 and S 22-3 |
J 23 | Saab | L-23; project only |
B/J 24 | Saab | L-24; cancelled, number reused |
Tp 24 | Dornier | Do 24T-1 |
Sk 25 | Bücker | Bü 181B Bestmann |
Sk 26 | Saab | Saab 26 (improved Sk 14); cancelled, number reused |
B/S 26 | Fokker | G.I; originally B 7 and S 13; cancelled, number reused |
J/S 26 | North American | P-51D Mustang; variants include J 26 and S 26 (modified J 26) |
J 27 | Saab | L-27; cancelled |
A/J/Sk 28 | DeHavilland | D.H.100 Vampire; variants include J 28A (Vampire F.1; later A 28A), J 28B (Vampire FB.50; later A 28B) and Sk 28C (Vampire T.55) |
A/J/S 29 | Saab | Tunnan; variants include J 29A, J 29B (a.k.a. A 29B), S 29C, J 29E (modified J 29B) and J 29F (modified J 29B/E; a.k.a. A 29F) |
J 30 | DeHavilland | D.H.98 Mosquito NF.19 |
S 31 | Supermarine | Spitfire PR.19 |
A/J/S 32 | Saab | Lansen; variants include A 32A, J 32B, S 32C, J 32D (modified J 32B) and J 32E (modified J 32B) |
J 33 | DeHavilland | D.H.112 Venom NF.51 |
J 34 | Hawker | Hunter F.50 |
J/S/Sk 35 | Saab | Draken; variants include J 35A, J 35B, Sk 35C (rebuilt J 35A), J 35D, S 35E, J 35F1, J 35F2 and J 35J (rebuilt J 35F) |
A 36 | Saab | nuclear bomber; cancelled |
AJ/JA/... 37 | Saab | Viggen; variants include AJ 37, AJS 37 (modified AJ 37), AJSF 37 (modified SF 37), AJSH 37 (modified SH 37), JA 37, SF 37 (photo reconnaissance), SH 37 (maritime surveillance), Sk 37 and Sk 37E (Sk 37 modified for ECM) |
A/Sk 38 | Saab | Saab 38; cancelled |
JAS 39 | Saab | Gripen; variants include JAS 39A, JAS 39B (two-seater), JAS 39C (improved JAS 39A) and JAS 39D (two-seat version of JAS 39C) |
Tp 45 | Beechcraft | C-45 |
Tp 46 | DeHavilland | D.H.104 Dove |
Tp 47 | Convair | PBY Catalina |
(48) | (No information) | |
(49) | (No information) | |
Sk 50 | Saab | Saab 91B/C Safir; variants include Sk 50B (Saab 91B) and Sk 50C (Saab 91C) |
Fpl 51 | Piper | PA-18; variants include Fpl 51A (PA-18-350 Super Cub) and Fpl 51B (PA-18-135 L-21B) |
Tp 52 | English Electric | Canberra (ELINT version) |
Fpl 53 | Dornier | Do 27 |
Fpl 54 | MFI | MFI 10 Vipan |
Tp 54 | Piper | PA-31-350 Navajo |
Tp 55 | DeHavilland-Canada | DHC-4 Caribou |
Sk 60 | Saab | Saab 105 (was to be Sk 55, but Saab asked for number 60); variants include Sk 60A, Sk 60B (rebuilt Sk 60A), Sk 60C (rebuilt Sk 60B) and Sk 60D/E |
Sk/Fpl 61 | Scottish Aviation | Bulldog; variants include Sk 61A/B/C/D/E and Fpl 61C |
Tp 78 | Noorduyn | Norseman |
Tp 79 | Douglas | C-47 Dakota |
Tp 80 | Avro | Lancaster Mk.I |
Tp 81 | Grumman | Goose |
Tp 82 | Vickers | Varsity |
Tp 83 | Percival | Pembroke C.52 |
Tp 84 | Lockheed | C-130H Hercules |
Tp 85 | SNIAS | Caravelle |
Tp 86 | Rockwell | Sabreliner |
Tp 87 | Cessna | Model 404 |
Tp 88 | Fairchild | Metro III; variants include Tp 88, Tp 88B (Metro/Merlin IV C) and TP 88C (Metro III) |
SH/Tp 89 | CASA | Model 212 Aviocar |
(90) | Probably not assigned, to avoid confusion with the Saab 90 Scandia airliner | |
Tp 91 | Saab | Saab 91A Safir |
92 | - | Number used for RB 05A missile training simulator |
93 | - | Number used for JA 37 part task training |
(94) | (No information) | |
(95) | (No information) | |
(96) | (No information) | |
97 | - | Number used for Draken simulator |
98 | - | Number used for Viggen simulator |
(99) | (No information) | |
S/Tp 100 | Saab | Saab 340; variants include Tp 100A/C (Saab 340B), S 100B (Saab 340 AEW Argus) and OS 100 (modified Tp 100A) |
Tp 101 | Beech | Super King Air 200 |
S/Tp 102 | Gulfstream | Gulfstream IV; variants include Tp 102A/C and S 102B (Gulfstream IV Korpen) |
Tp 103 | Cessna | Citation II |
Fpl 801 | MFI | MFI-9B Mili-trainer |
Helicopters
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
Hkp 1 | Vertol | Model 44 |
Hkp 2 | SNIAS | Alouette II (originally designated Tp 84 in the first 6 months!) |
Hkp 3 | Agusta/Bell | AB 204B; variants include Hkp 3B (Air Force) and Hkp 3C (Navy) |
Hkp 4 | Vertol | Model 107-II; variants include Hkp 4A (Air Force), Hkp 4B (Navy; Model 107-II-15), Hkp 4C (Navy; Model 107-II-16) and Hkp 4D (Navy; modified Hkp 4A) |
Hkp 5 | Hughes/Schweizer | Model 269/300; variants include Hkp 5 (Hughes 269A) and Hkp 5B (Schweizer 300C) |
Hkp 6 | Agusta/Bell | AB-206A Jet Ranger; variants include Hkp 6A (Army), Hkp 6B (Navy) and Hkp 6C (Air Force) |
Hkp 7 | - | Designation reserved for planned ASW helicopter; not used, because Vertol 107-II-16 (Hkp 4C) was selected |
Hkp 8 | - | Designation reserved for planned SAR helicopter; not used, because Bo 105CBS (Hkp 9B) was selected |
Hkp 9 | MBB | Bo 105; variants include Hkp 9A (Army; Bo 105CB-3) and Hkp 9B (Air Force; Bo 105CBS) |
Hkp 10 | Eurocopter | AS.332M Super Puma |
Hkp 11 | Agusta/Bell | AB-412HP |
Hkp 12 | - | Designation reserved for planned medium helicopter; cancelled and superseeded by Hkp 14 program |
(Hkp 13) | (No information; most probably not assigned) | |
Hkp 14 | NH Industries | NH-90 |
Hkp 15 | Agusta | A109M |
Gliders
Designation | Manufacturer | Model; Remarks |
G 101 | AB Flygindustri | Swedish version of Zögling SG-38 |
Se 102 | AB Flygplan | Swedish version of Schneider Grunau Baby IIB-2 |
Se 103 | AB Flygplan | Swedish version of DFS Kranich B-1 |
Se 104 | AB Flygindustri | Swedish version of DFS Weihe |
Lg 105 | AB Flygindustri | Fi 3 |
The information presented on this page has been obtained almost exclusively from Urban Fredriksson's Swedish (and Worldwide) Military Aviation web site. Please refer to Urban's site for detailed and extensive information about Swedish military aviation, including descriptions and photographs of almost all of the aircraft (including many prototypes and projects).
Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch
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