BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARIES
OF THE AIR FORCE ARMY AND NAVY
DEPARTMENT AIR FORCE
INSTRUCTION 16-401,
ARMY REGULATION 70-50,
NAVAIRINST 13100.16
3 NOVEMBER 2020
Operations Support
DESIGNATING AND NAMING
DEFENSE MILITARY AEROSPACE
VEHICLES
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the
E-Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication
OPR: AF/A8PE
Supersedes: AFI 16-401; AR 70-50;
NAVAIRINST 13100.16,
16 May 2014
Certified by: AF/A8P
(Maj Gen Richard G. Moore)
Pages: 42
This Department of Defense (DoD) Joint publication implements Air Force Policy Directive
(AFPD) 16-4, Accounting for Aerospace Vehicles at Units and Installations. It provides
guidance and procedures for designating and naming defense military aerospace vehicles across
the DoD. This Air Force Instruction (AFI) defines the roles and responsibilities of required
organizations, the processes for requesting new or retiring old designators and popular names,
and the relationship between and military aerospace vehicle designators and names.
Additionally, descriptions of standardized Mission Design Series (MDS) designation symbols,
military department contacts, and sample MDS and Popular Name request letters are provided.
This instruction applies to all military services and departments, including Reserve and National
Guard components, which require official designators or names for defense aerospace vehicles.
This publication may not be supplemented or further implemented/extended. Ensure that all
records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in
accordance with Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of
in accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule located in the Air Force Records
and Management System. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to
the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF Form 847, Recommendation for
Change of Publication; route AF Forms 847 from the field through the appropriate functional
chain of command. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements in this publication are
