The new Chinese Air Force Aircraft Marking System determines how aircraft belonging to the Chinese Navy, Air Force or Army Forces are officially classified and designated. The system was introduced on 1st January 1948 to unify the hitherto different namings in Army, Air Force and Navy.
Overview:
An official name for an aircraft of the Chinese armed forces consists of at least four components, here the example
SH-1P:
Starting from the left, there is first a single letter for the basic mission (S for Anti-Submarine), followed by the code letter for the manufacturer (H for Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation). After the dash, the current design number for this purpose follows to the right (1 for the first draft of an aircraft to combat submarines). This is followed by a letter for the modified mission (P for Patrol). An additional identifier for the aircraft type is added if it is not a "standard aircraft". This letter is left before the basic mission. The status ID indicates a nonstandard use of an aircraft. It is on the far left, in front of the other symbols.
All aircraft of the Chinese Armed Forces should also get a popular name in addition to their more technical name, especially for non-official purposes. For naming, the following rules apply: As soon as an aircraft enters series production, the relevant armed forces apply for a name. At least three names should be proposed which could reflect the task of the vehicle and consist of a maximum of two short words. A new variant does not justify a new name, but can be granted. Manufacturers and service forces can reserve names for future models.
Basic Mission:
A - Attack Aircraft (for tactical air-to-surface mission)
B - Bomber Aircraft (for stratetic air-to surface mission)
C - Cargo Aircraft
D - Divebomber
F - Fighter Aircraft
H - Hydroplane (Seaplane)
K - Tanker
M - Torpedobomber
N - Night Fighter
O - Observation
P - Maritime Patrol
R - Reconnaissance
S - ASW Aircraft
T - Trainer
U - Utility
Manufacturer:
A - Guizhou Aviation Industry
B - Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Ltd.
C - Chengdu Aircraft Industry
D - Dornier
E - E.W.I.L. Ltd. (ex Gothia Works)
F - Shennong Ltd.
G - Guoyong Aircraft Inc.
H - Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
I - Arado
J - Jong Airframe Manufacturing
K - Bücker
M - Bayerische Flugzeugwerke
N - Nanchan Aircraft Inc. Ltd.
S - Shaanxi Aircraft Company
T - Tachikawa
U - Gangchuan Aviation Ltd.
V - Heinkel
R - C.A.I.C.O.
W - Curtiss-Wright
Modified Mission:
A - Attack (Detecting and attacking ground and sea targets)
C - Cargo (Transportation of cargo and troops)
F - Fighter (Detecting and attacking enemy aircrafts)
H - SAR, MedEvac (Search and rescue operations)
K - Tanker (Transport for fuel and/or inflight refueler)
L - Equipment for use in the polar regions, for example skids or special insulation
M - Multimission
O - Observation (Reconnaissance and observation of enemy forces)
P - Patrol (Land or sea-based maritime patrol)
R - Reconnaissance (photographic reconnaissance)
S - ASW (Search, detect and attack enemy submarines)
T - Trainer (for training purposes)
U - Utility (Multi-purpose and utility)
V - VIP (Transportation of important persons)
W - Weather (Meteorological missions)
Vehicle Type:
G - Glider
H - Helicopter
Q - Unmanned aerial vehicle
Status ID:
G - Grounded (permanently flightless)
X - Experimental Status
Y - Prototype
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