DOD INSTRUCTION 4120.15
D
ESIGNATING AND NAMING MILITARY AEROSPACE VEHICLES
Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Effective: November 2, 2023
Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the Directives Division Website
at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/.
Incorporates and Cancels: DoD Directive 4120.15, “Designating and Naming Military Aerospace
Vehicles,” November 29, 2004, as amended
Cancels: DoD 4120.15-L, “Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles,”
May 12, 2004, as amended
Approved by: William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment
Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5135.02, this issuance:
• Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities to promote clarity and consistency throughout the
DoD in referencing military aerospace vehicles.
• Designates the Secretary of the Air Force as lead agent to ensure consistency and uniformity of
compliance with this issuance.
• Provides for consistent assignment of unique Mission-Design Series (MDS) designators to all
military aerospace vehicles.
• Authorizes:
o Publication of DAFI 16-401/AR 70-50/NAVAIRINST 13100.16, which governs the designation
and naming functions for military aerospace vehicles.
o A DoD-wide list of approved MDS designators and popular names for military aerospace
vehicles, maintained on the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)’s Common Access Card-
enabled DoDTechipedia website (https://www.dodtechipedia.mil/dodwiki/display/MDS/MDS+-
+Mission+Design+Series).
