BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARIES AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 16 …

[Pages:42]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 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

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identified with a Tier ("T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3") number following the compliance statement. See AFI 33-360, Publications and Forms Management, for a description of the authorities associated with the Tier numbers. Submit requests for waivers through the chain of command to the appropriate Tier waiver approval authority, or alternately, to the requestor's commander for nontiered compliance items.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This document has been revised and must be completely reviewed. Major changes include the new site for the most recent MDS database on data.af.mil and the cancellation of DoD 4120.15L, Model Designation of Military Aerospace Vehicles as the publically accessible MDS database. Major changes also include the addition of MDS designator "e" as a Prefix which indicates that the military defense aerospace vehicle was Digitally Developed.

1. Overview..................................................................................................................

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2. Roles and Responsibilities. ......................................................................................

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3. Relationship Between MDS Designator and Popular Name. ..................................

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4. MDS Designator. .....................................................................................................

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5. MDS Popular Name. ................................................................................................ 10

6. Retirement/Reactivation of an MDS Designator Popular Name. ............................ 12

7. Publication of Approved MDS Designators and Popular Names. ........................... 14

Attachment 1--GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION

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Attachment 2--STANDARDIZED MDS DESIGNATOR POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

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Attachment 3--STANDARDIZED MDS DESIGNATOR SYMBOL DESCRIPTIONS FOR

AIRCRAFT

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Attachment 4--STANDARDIZED MDS DESIGNATOR SYMBOL DESCRIPTIONS FOR

GUIDED MISSILES, ROCKETS, PROBES, BOOSTERS, AND

SATELLITES

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Attachment 5--MILITARY DEPARTMENT POINTS OF CONTACT MAILING

ADDRESSES

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Attachment 6--MDS DESIGNATOR REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE

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Attachment 7--SAMPLE (NOTIONAL) MDS DESIGNATOR REQUEST LETTER

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Attachment 8--MDS POPULAR NAME REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE

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Attachment 9--SAMPLE (NOTIONAL) MDS POPULAR NAME REQUEST LETTER

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Attachment 10--MDS RETIREMENT REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE

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Attachment 11--SAMPE (NOTIONAL) MDS RETIREMENT REQUEST LETTER

TEMPLATE

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Attachment 12--SAMPLE (NOTIONAL) MDS DESIGNATOR APPROVAL LETTER

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Attachment 13--SAMPLE (NOTIONAL) MDS POPULAR NAME APPROVAL LETTER

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DAFI16-401 3 NOVEMBER 2020

1. Overview.

1.1. This DoD Joint Publication establishes guidance and procedures for requesting a Mission Design Series designator and/or an MDS popular name for military aerospace vehicles. All requested and approved MDS designators will adhere to the DoD designator reporting system established in 1961 to standardize identification of military aerospace vehicles. This system uses letters and numbers to symbolize identifying characteristics of military aerospace vehicles of direct interest to the DoD (reference Attachment 3 and Attachment 4). All requested and approved MDS popular names will be suitable, in accordance with Air Force standards and values, for public release and not violate registered brand names, trademarks, or otherwise infringe upon copyright laws. (T-0)

1.2. The Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF) serves as the DoD Lead Agent (reference DoD Directive (DoDD) 5101.1, DoD Lead Agent) for the naming and designation of military aerospace vehicles (reference DoDD 4120.15E, Designating and Naming Military Aerospace Vehicles). The SECAF delegated authority relating to standardizing references to military aerospace vehicles to the Air Force Directorate of Programs, Program Integration Division (AF/A8PE) (reference Headquarters Air Force Mission Directive (HAFMD) 1-56, Deputy Chief of Staff Strategic Plans and Requirements). Acting on the behalf of the DoD Lead Agent, AF/A8PE may not re-delegate full authority of the MDS program, but does reserve the authority to arrange for and execute inter-Service support agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other necessary arrangements, as required, to fulfill assigned DoD Lead Agent responsibilities, functions, and authorities (reference DoDD 5101.1).

1.3. This instruction provides DoD-wide guidance on the following: generating, collecting, evaluating, and processing MDS designator and popular name requests, specifying required and essential coordinating organizations, outlining MDS designator and popular name approval authorities, determining "next-in-series" MDS designators, and publishing updates to this instruction and a single DoD-wide list of approved MDS designators and popular names for aerospace vehicles. Additionally, this instruction provides the required evaluation criteria and MDS request package templates, standardized MDS designator symbols, and respective military department points of contacts.

1.4. For the remainder of this instruction, the terms "MDS designator" or "MDS popular name" refer only to the designator or name for military defense aerospace vehicles and/or DoD aerospace vehicles only. Furthermore, the generic term "vehicle" references a military aerospace vehicle unless otherwise described. This instruction does not apply to groundbased systems or vehicles (except for unmanned aircraft control segments related to aerospace vehicles required to be controlled by rated pilots), any hybrid ground/aerospace vehicle in which its intended operational environment is ground-based, nor any specific attachment or subsystem of a military defense aerospace vehicle.

2. Roles and Responsibilities.

2.1. Department of the Air Force:

2.1.1. Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF):

2.1.1.1. Serves as the DoD Lead Agent for designating and naming military aerospace vehicles (reference DoDD 4120.15E).

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2.1.1.2. Oversees all delegated aspects of the MDS program. 2.1.2. Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs (SAF/PA):

2.1.2.1. Coordinates on assignment of MDS popular names. 2.1.2.2. Coordinates with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OASD/PA) on assignment of MDS popular names. 2.1.2.3. Ensures public suitability of proposed MDS popular names. 2.1.3. Headquarters Air Force Operations, Plans and Requirements (AF/A3): 2.1.3.1. Coordinates on MDS designators and popular names. 2.1.4. Headquarters Air Force Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (AF/A4): 2.1.4.1. Coordinates on MDS designators and popular names. 2.1.5. Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements (AF/A5): 2.1.5.1. Coordinates on MDS designators and popular names. 2.1.6. Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (AF/A8): 2.1.6.1. Serves on behalf of the DoD Lead Agent's authority for the MDS program (reference HAFMD 1-56). 2.1.6.2. Executes the responsibilities and functions as delegated by the DoD Lead Agent for the MDS program. 2.1.6.3. Serves as the approval authority for MDS designators. 2.1.6.4. Has the authority to delegate any aspect of the MDS program, as appropriate, that would best serve in the capacity of fulfilling MDS program execution. 2.1.7. Secretary of the Air Force, General Counsel (SAF/GC): 2.1.7.1. Coordinates on assignment of MDS popular names. 2.1.7.2. Conducts trademark search of proposed MDS popular names. 2.1.7.3. Nothing in paragraph 2.1.7 or its subparagraphs is inconsistent with HAFMD 1-14, General Counsel and the Judge Advocate General. 2.1.8. Air Force Directorate of Programs, Program Integration Division (AF/A8PE): 2.1.8.1. Serves as the central point of contact for administrating the MDS program. 2.1.8.2. Serves as the central collection point for MDS designator and popular name requests. 2.1.8.3. Reviews, processes, tracks, and staffs MDS designator and popular name requests. 2.1.8.4. Assigns the "next-in-series" MDS designator (as applicable). 2.1.8.5. Publishes and maintains a DoD-wide single source list of approved MDS designators and popular names (updated monthly, if changes occur). 2.1.8.6. Notifies service Points of Contact (POC) of final request status.

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2.1.9. Headquarters, United States Air Force, Office of the Judge Advocate General (AF/JA):

2.1.9.1. Provides legal advice, assistance and litigation support on trademark and copyright laws. Support is provided through the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Commercial Law and Litigation Directorate (AFLOA/JAQ).

2.1.9.2. Nothing in paragraph 2.1.9 or its subparagraphs is inconsistent with Headquarters Air Force Mission Directive (HAFMD) 1-14, General Counsel and The Judge Advocate General."

2.2. Department of the Army:

2.2.1. Headquarters, Army Materiel Command (HQ AMC), G-1 (Safety) AMCPE-SF:

2.2.1.1. Serves as the Army's single point of contact and is the official requesting agency for the Department of the Army.

2.2.2. Headquarters, Army Materiel Command (HQ AMC), Public Affairs:

2.2.2.1. Reviews and coordinates on MDS popular name requests processed through HQ AMC.

2.3. Department of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard: Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Systems Standardization Division (Code 412200B120-3):

2.3.1. Serves as the single point of contact and is the official requesting agency for the Department of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

3. Relationship Between MDS Designator and Popular Name.

3.1. The MDS designator is the official designation for military defense aerospace vehicles. The designator represents a specific category of vehicles for operations, support, and documentation purposes. Popular names are given to the MDS of certain aerospace vehicles to aid in communications and media references. Either reference may be used as a management tool; however, only refer to the MDS designator in official publications and technical manuals.

3.2. The MDS designator of a military aerospace vehicle must be approved prior to or with the approval of the popular name. Requests for both an MDS designator and popular name relating to the same aerospace vehicle may be submitted simultaneously. When submitting requests in separate packages, the MDS designator request must be submitted and accepted prior to submitting the popular name request. Stand-alone requests for an MDS popular name will be rejected if it relates to the following: an unapproved MDS designator, an aerospace vehicle without an MDS designator, or any anticipated MDS designator request that has not yet been submitted and accepted for processing. (T-0)

4. MDS Designator.

4.1. Designator Definition:

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4.1.1. The MDS designator is an official DoD recognized alpha-numeric designation of a military defense aerospace vehicle. A standardized set of symbols, established by the Secretary of Defense, are used for solely designating military defense aerospace vehicles categorized as: aircraft (standard or non-standard), guided missiles, rockets, probes, boosters, and satellites. The designator describes the aerospace vehicle in two components where the components are separated by a dash. The first component, comprised only of alpha characters, describes the mission of the vehicle. The second component, comprised of alpha-numeric characters, describes the design number and design series of the vehicle.

4.1.2. Standard aircraft MDS designators are comprised of the following: status prefix (optional), modified mission (optional), basic mission (required), design number (required), design series (required).

4.1.3. Non-standard aircraft MDS designators are comprised of the following: status prefix (optional), modified mission (optional), basic mission (required), vehicle type (required), design number (required), design series (required).

4.1.4. Guided missiles, rockets, probes, boosters, and satellite MDS designators are comprised of the following: status prefix (optional), launch environment (required), basic mission (required), design number (required), design series (required).

4.1.5. Only one designator symbol can be selected from each optional and required symbol category. For example, standard aircraft may only have one symbol selected (as applicable) as a status prefix, modified mission, and basic mission. (T-0)

4.1.6. For aircrafts (standard and non-standard), modified mission symbols cannot be attached to duplicate basic mission symbols (e.g., "FF-16A") except for the modified and basic mission symbol "L." (T-0)

4.1.7. Designators not assigned and approved through the process outlined herein, but by the aerospace vehicle's manufacturer or another non-DoD agency or country is strictly prohibited and is not recognized as an official MDS designator. Furthermore, the current format of the MDS designator was established by the DoD on 18 Sep 1962 with the publishing of AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, and Bureau of Naval Weapons Instruction 13100.7 (a joint service instruction) and therefore the MDS designator format is owned by the DoD. (T-0)

4.2. Designator Request Eligibility:

4.2.1. Prior to submitting any MDS designator request package, the following basic criteria must be met: (T-0)

4.2.1.1. The request pertains to an aerospace vehicle intended to become part of or already is part of the active DoD inventory.

4.2.1.2. The designator is intended for a permanent aerospace vehicle acquisition. Requests are not accepted for military aerospace vehicles procured to meet Urgent Operational Needs or other temporary/non-permanent acquisition requirements including lease of the vehicle.

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4.2.1.3. The request pertains to a new designation or modification/revision to an existing designator. Requests are not accepted for designators in reverse or skipped sequences.

4.3. Procedures for Requesting a Designator:

4.3.1. Preparing the Request.

4.3.1.1. Fully complete the MDS Designator Request Letter (reference Attachment 6).

4.3.1.2. Request letter paragraph two and attachment one will remain blank or completed notionally until the Program Executive Officer (PEO) or Program Manager (PM) and/or Lead and Using Command/Service Department concurs with requested MDS designator. (T-0)

4.3.1.3. Research and determine the "next-in-series" MDS designator to be requested (reference the MDS page on the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) DoDTechipedia website, see Attachment 1, or contact AF/A8PE, see Attachment 5). For standard aircraft, reference the basic mission designator and research the last approved design number and design series of that basic mission designator to determine the "next-in-series" MDS designator. For non-standard aircraft, guided missiles, rockets, probes, boosters, and satellites, reference the basic mission and vehicle type designators and research the last approved design number and design series of that basic mission/vehicle type designator to determine the "next-in-series" MDS designator.

4.3.1.4. Coordinate letter with requesting organization's respective Military Department point of contact (reference Attachment 5).

4.3.1.4.1. (For Air Force) Coordinate letter through requesting organization's applicable PEO or PM.

4.3.1.4.2. (For Air Force PEO/PM) Coordinate letter through the applicable lead command at the O-6 level.

4.3.1.5. Update request letter paragraph two and attachment one to reflect PEO/PM and/or Lead and Using Command/Service Department concurrence with requested MDS designator.

4.3.2. Submitting the Request.

4.3.2.1. Review the request letter for the following information:

4.3.2.1.1. Complete/accurate MDS designator requested.

4.3.2.1.2. Validate manufacturer, approved popular name (if known), engine data (number, type, and designation), and using department(s).

4.3.2.1.3. Ensure the vehicle description is short, unclassified, and distinctive such that it is suitable for publication.

4.3.2.1.4. Ensure the name, office symbol, email address, and telephone number of the requesting official and agency is listed.

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