N E C – 121 K Suffix
Naval Aircraft Fundamentals
109.1 State the primary mission of the following aviation communities:
Note: In squadron designations, the rules for meanings of letters is only general since squadron types have renamed themselves without changing designators. H stands for Helicopter (frequently referred to as Rotary Wing). V stands for Fixed Wing. The secondary position (as in the P in VP) as a general rule stand for:
A - Attack
AQ - Electronic Attack (formerly known as Tactical Electronic Warfare)
AW - Airborne Early Warning
C - Cargo (renamed to Combat Support for funding purposes following Desert
Storm) or
C - Composite (VC)
F - Fighter
L - Light as in HAL (Helicopter Attack, Light), VA(L) (Fixed wing Attack, Light
A-4s and A-7s) and HSL (Helicopter Antisubmarine, Light)
M - Mine Counter Measures or
M - Marine Corps (will have a third designator at least such as VMFA, or
VMAQ) or
M - Medium lift (in conjunction with Marine Corps M) (HMM – Helicopter,
Marine, Medium lift)
O - Observation as in VMO
P - Patrol (us!)
Q - Electronic, Special (VQ)
R - Logistics Support (from Re-supply?)
RC - Carrier Logistics Support (from Logistics Support Composite)
S - Anti Submarine as in HS and HSL or
S - Sea Control - S-3 squadrons (another post Desert Storm name change)
(formerly known as Fixed wing ASW) or
S - Special - as in HCS (Helicopter Combat Support, Special)
T - Trainer
X - Research and Development
VXE- Antarctic Research Support disestablished 1999
VXN- Permanent Test bed Research disestablished 1997
1. HC- Helicopter Combat Support - Rotary Wing (Aircraft: H-1, H-3, CH-46D, CH-53D/E)
2. HCS- Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadron- Rotary Wing (Aircraft: HH-60H)
3. HM- Helicopter Mine Countermeasures - Rotary Wing (Aircraft: CH/MH/RH-53E)
4. HS- Helicopter Antisubmarine - Rotary Wing (Aircraft: SH-60F, HH-60H)
5. HSL- Helicopter Antisubmarine Light (Aircraft: SH-60B)
6. HT- Helicopter Training (Aircraft: TH-57)
7. VAQ- Tactical Electronic Attack - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: EA-6B)
8. VAW- Carrier Airborne Early Warning - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: E-2C)
9. VC- Fleet Composite - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: F-5E, F-14, TA-4E, T-38, UH-3A, CH-53E, VP-3A)
10. VF- Fighter - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: F-14)
11. VFA- Strike Fighter - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: F/A-18). (Actually, it stands for Fighter Attack but the pilots did not appreciate being called Fighter Attack Guys)
12. VMFA- Marine Strike Fighter - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: F/A-18)
13. VP- Patrol - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: P-3C)
14. VQ- Fleet Air Reconnaissance - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: EP-3, E-6) VQ-1 & -2 fly EP-3s, VQ-3 & -4 fly E-6s. VQ-5, -6, & -11 decommissioned.
15. VR- Logistics Support - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: C-9, C-20, TC-39, C-130)
16. VRC- Carrier Logistics Support - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: C-2, US-3A)
17. VS- Sea Control - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: S-3)
18. VT- Training - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: T-2, TA-4, TC-12, T-34, T-44, T-45)
19. VX/VXE - Air Test and Evaluation - Fixed Wing (Aircraft: A4M/T, TA-4J, A-6, AV-8, F/A-18A/B, S-3A/B, P-3A/C, UH-1N, AH-1J/T/W,SH-2F, SH-3H, SH-60B/F, OV-10A/D) VXE-6 - Antarctic Development- Fixed Wing (Aircraft: LC-130 and LH-1H). Decommissioned.
109.2 Identify the mission of the following naval aircraft:
As per NAVAIR 00-110A Appendix A
Aircraft Designation Symbols
N E C – 121 K Suffix
Status Prefix Symbol Design Number
Modified Mission Symbol Basic Mission or Type
Symbol
Every aircraft designed for the military receives an aircraft designation. The minimum designation is a Basic Mission Symbol and a Design Number. Helicopters and V/STOL aircraft will have a Mission Symbol, then a Type Symbol, then the Design Number such as AV-8 and SH-60. The Suffix indicated major variations in the particular design that do not change the mission like F-14A and F-14D. The suffix may be followed by other acronyms that indicate modification of the baseline model, for example - P-3C UIII AIP. Some aircraft receive such extensive changes that they receive a Modified Mission Symbol. It is possible for an aircraft to have multiple Modified Mission Symbols as in EKA-3 but it is more common to drop the former Modified Mission Symbol and refer to the aircraft as EA-3. Some aircraft will have a Status Prefix Symbol. These always have at least a Basic Mission Symbol.
Type Symbols
The only Type Symbols are
H - Helicopter
V - V/STOL (Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing)
All other aircraft are considered fixed wing.
The Basic and Modified Mission Symbols are:
A - Attack – aircraft designed or modified for ground or sea attack missions.(AH-1, A-3, A-4, A-6, FA-18, AC-130)
B - Bomber – multi-engine aircraft designed for bombing surface (land or sea) targets.
Usually larger than Attack aircraft. (none currently in naval service) (B-1, B-2, B-52)
C - Cargo/Transport (C-2, C-9, C-12, CH-46D, CH-53E, C-130)
D - Director – for aircraft capable of controlling drone aircraft or missiles. (DC-130)
E - Special Electronic Installation these aircraft perform the following roles: Electronic
Counter Measures; Airborne Early Warning; Airborne Command & Control; Tactical
Data Communications Link; Electronic Intelligence (E-2C, EP-3E, E-6B, EA-6B)
F - Fighter – includes aircraft considered multi-mission designed for ground support such
as the F-4. (F-14, FA-18)
H - Search and Rescue. Aircraft whose mission required installation of special
equipment specifically for performance of SAR and C/SAR (Combat SAR). Used for
insertion and retrieval of Special Operations forces (SEALS, Marine RECON, Green
Berets, Rangers) (HH-60, HC-130)
K -Tanker (KC-135, KC-10, KA-3, KS-3. KA-6)
L - Arctic, specially modified for operations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions (LH-1,
LC-130)
M - Military – special purpose modifications that frequently include extra navigation
equipment and special operations capability (MV-22, MH-53, MC-130)
O - Observation – aircraft used primarily for directing Close Air Support (CAS) or
directing artillery fire. (OA-4, OV-10)
P - Patrol – long range, multi-engine aircraft with the primary mission of maritime
reconnaissance, ASW, and mine interdiction. (P-2, P-3)
Q - Drone – aircraft designed or modified to be capable of being controlled from some
where other than inside the aircraft. (QA-4, QF-4)
R – Reconnaissance – aircraft having equipment permanently installed for photographic of electronic reconnaissance (such as the mine hunting sonar on mine hunting helicopters) (RP-3D, RF -4C, RF-8G, RH-53E)
S - Anti-submarine – shorter range shipboard aircraft designed for a similar role as Patrol
aircraft. (S-3B, SH-60F)
T - Trainer – aircraft used for training personnel on the operation of aircraft or related
equipment. (T-2, TP-3A, TA-4, TC-39, T-44, T-45)
U - Utility –aircraft that perform miscellaneous missions which can include carrying
cargo, passengers and other grunt work. (UH-1, UP-3A, UC-12)
V - Staff (Think VIP) - aircraft used for transporting of VIP personnel. Plush
accommodations. (VH-3, VP-3A, VC-20)
W - Weather – aircraft used for gathering weather and weather related information. The
more famous ones fly through hurricanes. (WP-3, WC-130)
X - Experimental, these aircraft are purpose built for experimental use only and are not
themselves ever planned for wide spread production. (X-15, X-29, X-33)
Status Prefix Symbol:
J – Special Test, Temporary – aircraft used by specific organizations to temporarily test
configurations or equipment. The aircraft must be capable of being returned to original
configuration. This is not normally used any more.
N – Special Test, Permanent – aircraft modified to be permanent test beds for equipment
or configurations. They are not capable of being returned to their original
configurations.
Y - Prototype, Developmental – aircraft procured in limited quantities for pre-production testing and development. (YFA-18, YF-22)
X - Prototype, Experimental – aircraft testing the design. These are the original aircraft built of a type. Some never get past this stage. (XF-22, XF-23)
Aircraft with long service or production life-spans can have several modifiers to variations in production or various modifications to one specific Bureau number. C-130 aircraft have had countless modifications and have been produced in AC-130, DC-130, EC-130, HC-130, KC-130, LC-130, MC-130, NC-130, and WC-130 variants many of which are back fitted onto existing airframes.
Fixed Wing
A-4 Skyhawk- Vietnam era light attack aircraft. Replaced by A-7 Corsair II. TA-4J still performing job as FAC (Forward Air Controller).
A-6E Intruder- Navy's last true all weather attack aircraft. Can carry more than twice the bomb load more than twice the distance of the FA-18E/F. No longer in service.
A-7 Corsair II- joint light attack aircraft used by USAF and USN into the early 1990s. Replaced by the FA-18.
AV-8B Harrier- Attack, Marines only. Specializes in Close Air Support (CAS). Due to be replaced by the F-35 JSF.
C-2A Greyhound- Carrier logistics support. More commonly know as COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) bird
C-9B Sky Train II- Land based logistics support. Military version of the DC-9 aircraft. Cargo and/or people mover.
UC-12B/F/M Huron- Logistics support Base Ops short hauler. Small twin-engine turboprop. Commercially called King Air. No longer controlled by NALO, many have been turned over to the Air Force or turned into trainers.
C-20D/G Gulfstream- Land based logistics support (VIP). Primarily people mover.
C-40A Clipper- Boeing 737 built for US Navy. Replacing C-9 and DC-9 aircraft.
C-130 Hercules- Land based logistics support. Marines have KC-130 variant for refueling CH-53 helicopters in-flight. All special EC-130s, LC-130L (Antarctic) have been turned over to USAF, ANG units, or sent to the bone yard.
EA-6B Prowler- Electronic Attack. Jams any electronic transmissions: radar, communications, what ever. Derived from the A-6 Intruder. Sole electronic warfare aircraft for USAF, USMC, and USN. USAF and USN crews in joint squadrons. Replacement FA-18 variant in the works.
E-2C Hawkeye- Airborne early warning. Performs Command & Control, Air Intercept Control, and many other functions. Provides radar coverage out to 200 nautical miles. E-2C 2000.
E-6 Mercury- Strategic Command and Control. Centrally based out of Tinker AFB, OK. Yet another Boeing 707 derivative. Communicates with submerged ballistic missile submarines to give launch signal incase of nuclear attack.
F/A-18 Hornet- Fighter/attack. Designed as a replacement for the A-4 and A-7 Light Attack aircraft. F/A-18E/F versions to be replacement for A-6E Intruder. It can carry 1/3 the bomb load 1/3 of the range an A-6 could.
F-4 Phantom II- the plane that the F-14 AND F/A-18 were designed to replace. Saw combat all around the world in a multitude of nations service. The ONLY aircraft the F-4 Phantom came out a consistent loser against was the F-4 Phantom (in the Geek - Turkey skirmishes over Cyprus in the 1870s). QF-4s are used as target drones. The common practice is to stencil the pilot's name as ENS NOLO (No Live Operator Onboard). Everytime the QF-4 survives an attempt to blow it apart with missiles, the rank is changed (for example LCDR Nolo has survived 3 attempts on his life).
F-5 Tiger- Fighter used as enemy aircraft by aggressor squadron for Dissimilar Air Combat Maneuvering Training (DACM). F-5E is the two seater version.
F-14 Tomcat- Fighter. Fleet defense. Only aircraft capable of firing AIM-54 Phoenix missile. Between the Tomcat’s long range and the 100+ mile range of the Phoenix, it pushed the fleet defense bubble well away from the carrier. Also targeted for replacement by the less capable F/A-18E/F
MV-22B Osprey- Tilt rotor aircraft able to take off, hover, and land like a helicopter, but able to fly the safer and more fuel efficient profile of an airplane. Replacing MH-46 for landing Marines in hostile places.
P-3 Orion- Patrol, Reconnaissance, ASW, ASuW. NOAA hurricane hunters use specially built WP-3 aircraft. Testbed NP-3Ds come in a variety of styles.
EP-3E Aires- Electronic reconnaissance aircraft. Made famous for its visit to Hainan Island, PRC.
S-3Viking- Carrier antisubmarine warfare, Air Group Electronic Support.
TA-4 Skyhawk- Training, observation, aggressor squadron aircraft.
T-2 Buckeye- Trainer. Primarily replaced by T-45.
T-6 Texan II- JPATS joint service training aircraft. Replacing T-34.
T-34C Turbo-Mentor- Turbo-prop trainer.
T-39 Sabreliner- Business Jet along the lines of an early Learjet. Used for VIP transport.
T-44 Pegasus- Multi-engine trainer.
T-45 Goshawk- Trainer replacing T-2 and TA-4. Derived from British Aerospace Hawk.
Helicopters
AH-1 Cobra- Helicopter attack Marines Close Air Support.
UH-1N Iroquois- Helicopter combat support, Utility, SAR. The N variant is twin-engined. Genuine Jack-of-All-Trades.
SH-2 Seasprite- Helicopter antisubmarine, light. Not in active or reserve naval service.
SH-3 Sea King- Helicopter antisubmarine. HH-3H and VH-3 only variants left in active naval service. Currently used for SAR and VIP transportation.
CH-46 Sea Knight- Helicopter combat support. Used for underway replenishment, VERTREP and amphibious assault. Some models are also SAR capable.
CH-53D/E Sea Stallion- Helicopter mine countermeasures, combat support, VERTREP. The MH-53E Super Stallion variants are three engines, larger fuel tanks, and drop tank capability. Many versions are capable of in-flight refueling.
TH-57 Sea Ranger- Primary helicopter trainer.
SH-60B Seahawk- Helicopter antisubmarine light. Uses sonobouys. Operates primarily from small boys (DDGs, FFGs)
SH-60F Oceanhawk- Helicopter antisubmarine. Uses dipping sonar. Operates mainly from carriers.
HH-60H Seahawk- Helicopter combat support, special. Takes people who aren’t there where they didn’t go and picks them back up. Has hoist, drop tank, and in-flight refueling capability. Also used for SAR.
SH-60R- replacement for SH-60B and SH-60F.
CH-60S- Replacement for CH46.
Links
Common Core
102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 114 115 116 117 118
P-3C Specific
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 201 202 203 204 205
