BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARIES
OF THE AIR FORCE, ARMY, AND NAVY
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 16-401
ARMY REGULATION 70-50
NAVAIRINST 13100.16
16 MAY 2014
Operations
DESIGNATING AND NAMING DEFENSE
MILITARY AEROSPACE VEHICLES
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the e-
Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil
There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: HQ USAF/A8PE
Supersedes: AFI 16-401_IP;
AR 70-50;
NAVAIRINST 13100.16;
14 April 2005
Certified by: HQ USAF/A8P
(Maj Gen Boera)
Pages: 42
This Air Force publication implements DoD Directive 4120.15E, Designating and Naming
Military Aerospace Vehicles. It provides guidance and procedures for designating and naming
defense military aerospace vehicles across the DoD. This 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.
Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are
maintained in accordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in
accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) located at
https://www.my.af.mil/afrims/afrims/afrims/rims.cfm.
Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the Office of Primary
Responsibility (OPR) using the AF IMT 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication; route
AF IMT 847s from the field through the appropriate functional’s chain of command.
