Yugoslav Air Force - Aircraft Type Designation System

Aircraft Type Designation System

In 1962 the Yugoslav Air Force introduced a new aircraft designation system to identify specific aircraft types. Prior to this time, the Air Force had been mainly equipped combat aircraft of US origin, such as the F-84G and T-33A, and the US designation was commonly used. However, aircraft locally modified to fulfill the reconnaissance role, such as the F-86D and T-33A, were referred to as the IF-86D and IT-33A. The selection of the MiG-21, which lacked similar designation, as the new front-line fighter led to the introduction of a formal aircraft designation system.

The main designation consisted of a prefix letter signifying the principal role of the aircraft, and a two-digit individual type number, e.g.: J-22. The role prefixes are:

• L - Lovac (fighter)
• J - Jurisnik (attack)
• H - Helikopter (helicopter)
• V - Visenamjenski (utility)
• N - Nastavni (training)
• T - Transportni (transport)

In addition, various role modification prefix and suffix letters are used, to indicate trainer, reconnaissance etc. variants of the basic design. The role modification letters are:

• I - Izvidjac (reconnaissance)
• M - Modifikovan (modified)
• N - Nastavni (fighter trainer)
• N - Naoruzani (armed helicopter)
• O - Opce namjene (general purpose)
• P - Protivpodmornicki (anti-submarine)
• S - Spailacki (rescue)
• T - Transportni (transport)