NATO reporting name

NATO code name for military equipment of purported opponents

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NATO uses a system of code names, called reporting names, to denote military aircraft and other equipment used by post-Soviet states, former Warsaw Pact countries, China, and other countries. The system assists military communications by providing short, one- or two-syllable names, as alternatives to the precise proper names, which may be easily confused under operational conditions or are unknown in the Western world.[1]

The assignment of reporting names is managed by the Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council (AFIC), previously known as the Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC), which is separate from NATO. Based in Washington DC, AFIC comprises representatives from the militaries of three NATO members (Canada, the United Kingdom and United States) and two non-NATO countries (Australia and New Zealand).[2]

When the system was introduced in the 1950s, reporting names also implicitly designated potentially hostile aircraft. However, since the end of the Cold War, some NATO air forces have operated various aircraft types with reporting names (e.g., "Fulcrum" for the Mikoyan MiG-29).

## American variations

[edit]

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) expands on the NATO reporting names in some cases. NATO refers to surface-to-air missile systems mounted on ships or submarines with the same names as the corresponding land-based systems, but the DoD assigns a different series of numbers with a different prefix (i.e., SA-N- versus SA-) for these systems. The names are kept the same as a convenience. Where there is no corresponding system, a new name is devised.

## Soviet nicknames

[edit]

The Soviet Union did not always assign official "popular names" to its aircraft, but unofficial nicknames were common as in any air force. Generally, Soviet pilots did not use the NATO names, preferring a native Russian nickname. An exception was that Soviet airmen appreciated the MiG-29's codename "Fulcrum", as an indication of its pivotal role in Soviet air defence.[3][failed verification]

## Nomenclature

[edit]

To reduce the risk of confusion, unusual or made-up names are allocated, the idea being that the names chosen are unlikely to occur in normal conversation and are easier to memorise.

For fixed-wing aircraft, the number of syllables indicates the type of the aircraft's engine. Single-syllable code names denote reciprocating engine or turboprop, while two-syllable code names denote jet engine.[2]

Bombers have names starting with the letter "B", and names like "Badger" (Tupolev Tu-16), "Blackjack" (Tupolev Tu-160) and "Bear" (Tupolev Tu-95) have been used. "Frogfoot", the reporting name for the Sukhoi Su-25, references the aircraft's close air support role. Transports have names starting with "C" (for "cargo"), resulting in names like "Condor" for the Antonov An-124 or "Candid" for the Ilyushin Il-76.

## Lists of NATO reporting names

[edit]

### Missiles

[edit]

The initial letter of the name indicates the use of that equipment. The alphanumeric designations (e.g. AA-2) are assigned by the U.S. Department of Defense.[2]

Initial letter | Description | Corresponding list

|
|

A  | Air-to-air missiles, e.g., "Atoll" | List of NATO reporting names for air-to-air missiles
K  | Air-to-surface missiles (from the Russian Kh designation), e.g., "Kingfish" | List of NATO reporting names for air-to-surface missiles
G  | Ground-to-air missiles, e.g., "Gauntlet" | List of NATO reporting names for surface-to-air missiles
S  | Surface-to-surface missiles, including ballistic missiles (e.g., "Scud") and coastal defense missiles (e.g., "Stooge")  | List of NATO reporting names for surface-to-surface missiles
S  | Anti-tank missiles, e.g., "Spandrel" | List of NATO reporting names for anti-tank missiles

### Aircraft

[edit]

The first letter indicates the type of aircraft, e.g., "Bear" for a bomber aircraft refers to the Tupolev Tu-95, or "Fulcrum" for the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fighter aircraft. For fixed-wing aircraft, one-syllable names are used for propeller aircraft and two-syllable names for aircraft with jet engines. This distinction is not made for helicopters.[2]

Initial letter | Description | Corresponding list

|
|

F  | Fighter aircraft (e.g, "Foxhound"), also later ground attack aircraft (e.g., "Frogfoot")  | List of NATO reporting names for fighter aircraft
B  | Bomber aircraft, e.g. "Blackjack" | List of NATO reporting names for bomber aircraft
C  | Commercial aircraft, airliners, and cargo aircraft, e.g., "Condor" | List of NATO reporting names for transport aircraft
H  | Helicopters, e.g., "Hind" | List of NATO reporting names for helicopters
M  | Miscellaneous aircraft names, including trainers, aerial reconnaissance, seaplanes, aerial refueling, and airborne early warning | List of NATO reporting names for miscellaneous aircraft

### Submarines

[edit]

Further information: List of NATO reporting names for submarines

Before the 1980s, reporting names for submarines were taken from the NATO spelling alphabet. Modifications of existing designs were given descriptive terms, such as "Whiskey Long Bin". From the 1980s, new designs were given names derived from Russian words, such as "Akula", or "shark". These names did not correspond to the Soviet names. Coincidentally, "Akula", which was assigned to an attack submarine by NATO, was the actual Soviet name for the ballistic missile submarine NATO named "Typhoon-class". The NATO names for submarines of the People's Republic of China are taken from Chinese dynasties.

### Equipment

[edit]

Further information: List of NATO reporting names for equipment

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2025)

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## See also

[edit]

* World War II Allied names for Japanese aircraft

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NATO Code Names for Submarines and Ships: Submarine Classes / Reporting Name". Art and Aerospace Page. Univ. of Michigan, UMCC / AIS. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
2. ^ a b c d Hollings, Alex (24 January 2022). "Where Do NATO Aircraft Names Come From?". The National Interest. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
3. ^ Zuyev, A. and Malcolm McConnell. Fulcrum: A Top Gun Pilot's Escape from the Soviet Empire. Warner Books, 1993. ISBN 0-446-36498-3.

## External links

[edit]

* Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles
* Aerospace Web

* v
* t
* e

NATO designation for Russian and former Soviet Union missiles

Air-to-air
(full list)|

* AA-1 Alkali
* AA-2 Atoll
* AA-3 Anab
* AA-4 Awl
* AA-5 Ash
* AA-6 Acrid
* AA-7 Apex
* AA-8 Aphid
* AA-9 Amos
* AA-10 Alamo
* AA-11 Archer
* AA-12 Adder
* AA-13 Arrow
* K-74M2 (R-73M)
* K-77M (R-77M)
* KS-172

Air-
to-surface
(full list)|

* 10Kh 14Kh 18Kh RV-1
* AS-1 Kennel
* AS-2 Kipper
* AS-3 Kangaroo
* AS-4 Kitchen
* AS-5 Kelt
* AS-6 Kingfish
* AS-7 Kerry
* AS-8 Kokon AT-6
* AS-9 Kyle
* AS-10 Karen
* AS-11 Kilter
* AS-12 Kegler
* AS-13 Kingbolt
* AS-14 Kedge
* AS-15 Kent
* AS-16 Kickback
* AS-17 Krypton
* AS-18 Kazoo
* AS-X-19 Koala
* AS-20 Kayak
* AS-X-21
* AS-22 Kh-59MK2S/69
* AS-4M Kh-32
* AS-23 Kh-38/36
* AS-24 Kh-36
* Kh-45
* AS-25 Kh-50
* AS-26 Kodiak
* Kh-90
* AS-27 Sunburn A Kh-41
* AS-28 Strobile A Kh-61
* AS-29 Sizzler Club A
* Hermes A ATS
* Kh-50
* LMUR Izd. 305
* Iz 85 Kh-MD-E
* Kh-74M2 "GZUR"
* AS-X-36 Stone AH (Kh-76)
* AS-37 BrahMos AL
* Zirkon (Kh-72) ASM
* BrahMos-II

Anti-tank
guided
(full list)|

* AT-1 Snapper
* AT-2 Swatter
* AT-3 Sagger
* AT-4 Spigot
* AT-5 Spandrel
* AT-6 Spiral
* AT-7 Saxhorn
* AT-8 Songster
* AT-9 Spiral-2
* AT-10 Stabber
* AT-11 Sniper
* AT-12 Swinger
* AT-13 Saxhorn-2
* АТ-14 Spriggan
* АТ-15 Springer
* AT-16 Scallion
* 'Avtonomya' IR FF
* Hermes A/M/K ATS
* LMUR Izd. 305
* Kh-50
* Iz 85 Kh-MD-E

Surface-
to-air
(full list)|

| Ground-
based|

* SA-1 Guild
* SA-2 Guideline
* SA-3 Goa
* SA-4 Ganef
* SA-5 Gammon
* SA-6 Gainful
* SA-7 Grail
* SA-8 Gecko
* SA-9 Gaskin
* SA-10 Grumble
* SA-11 Gadfly
* SA-12 Gladiator/Giant
* SA-13 Gopher
* SA-14 Gremlin
* SA-15 Gauntlet
* SA-16 Gimlet
* SA-17 Grizzly
* SA-18 Grouse
* SA-19 Grison
* SA-20 Gargoyle
* SA-21 Growler
* SA-22 Greyhound
* SA-23 Gladiator/Giant
* SA-24 Grinch
* SA-27 Gullum
* SA-29 Gizmo
* Morfey
* S-350
* Sosna-R/RA

|

Naval-
based|

* SA-N-1 Goa
* SA-N-2 Guideline
* SA-NX-2C M-3
* SA-N-3 Goblet
* SA-N-4 Gecko
* SA-N-5 Grail
* SA-N-6 Grumble
* SA-N-7 Gadfly
* SA-N-8 Gremlin
* SA-N-9 Gauntlet
* SA-N-10 Grouse
* SA-N-11 Grison
* SA-N-12 Grizzly
* SA-N-14 Grouse
* SA-N-20 Gargoyle
* SA-N-21 Greyhound
* 9K96 Redut
* Palash/Palma

Anti-
ballistic|

* ABM-1 Galosh
* ABM-3/53T6 Gazelle
* S-500
* A-235

Surface-
to-surface
(full list)|

| Ground-
based|

* SS-1 Scunner/SS-1 Scud (Scud-A/-B/-C/-D)
* SS-2 Sibling
* SS-3 Shyster
* SS-4 Sandal
* SS-5 Skean
* SS-6 Sapwood
* SS-7 Saddler
* SS-8 Sasin
* SS-8B Sasin 2
* SS-9 Scarp
* SS-10 Scrag
* SS-11 Sego
* SS-12 Scaleboard
* SS-X-13 Savage
* SS-13 Savage
* SS-14 Scamp/Scapegoat
* SS-15 Scrooge
* SS-16 Sinner
* SS-17 Spanker
* SS-18 Satan
* SS-19 Stiletto
* SS-20 Saber
* SS-21 Scarab
* SS-22 Scaleboard
* SS-23 Spider
* SS-24 Scalpel
* SS-25 Sickle
* SS-26 Stone
* SS-27 Sickle B
* SS-28 Saber 2
* SS-29 Sickle C
* SS-X-30 Satan 2
* SS-X-31 Sickle D
* SS-X-32Zh Scalpel B
* Avangard / HGV Yu-7#
* SS-X-33 Stone AN

|

Naval-
based|

* 14KhK1 15Kh 17Kh
* KS-1 Komet
* P-20 Sokol
* P-40 P-47
* SS-N-1 Scrubber
* SS-N-2 Styx
* SS-N-3c Shaddock
* SS-N-3a Shaddock 3b Sepal
* SS-N-4 Sark
* SS-N-5 Sark/Serb
* D-6 D-6M
* D-7 R-15M
* SS-N-6 Serb
* SS-N-7 Starbright
* SS-N-8 Sawfly
* SS-N-9 Siren
* SS-N-12 Sandbox
* SS-NX-13 Serb
* SS-N-14 Silex
* SS-N-15 Starfish
* SS-N-16 Stallion
* SS-N-17 Snipe
* SS-N-18 Stingray
* SS-N-19 Shipwreck
* SS-N-20 Sturgeon
* SS-N-21 Sampson
* SS-N-22 Sunburn
* SS-N-23 Skif R29RM
* SS-N-23A Skif
* SS-N-23B Skif
* SS-NX-24 Scorpion
* SS-N-25 Switchblade
* SS-N-26 Strobile
* SS-N-27 Sizzler
* SS-N-30A 3M-14
* SS-NX-28
* SS-N-29
* SS-N-32
* SS-NX-33
* SS-NX-34 Skif
* SS-N-35
* SS-N-36
* SS-NX-37
* SS-NX-38 Canyon

Ship-
to-ship|

* 10KhN
* SSC-1B Sepal Redut
* SSC-2 Salish/Samlet AS/KS-1
* P-20 Sokol
* SSC-K P-1 Schuka KSShch
* SSC-3 Styx Rubezh
* SSC-4 Slingshot
* SSC-X-5 Scorpion
* SSC-6 Sennight
* SSC-7 Stone KS 9M728
* SSC-8 Stone KB 9M729
* SSC-14 Klub N/M 3M14/54
* SSC-13 BrahMos
* SSC-10/SSC-5 Stooge Bastion P/S
* SSC-7/12 3M-80MV
* SSC-X-11 "GZUR"
* SSC-X-15 Skif
* SSC-X-9 Stone AN
* Hermes M ATS
* Hermes K ATS

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