NATO reporting names for Soviet/Chinese aircraft and missiles

[Stargazer]

NOTE: this is a basic name list which does not go into the detail of the various sub-versions.

BOMBERS

BACKFIN Tupolev Tu-98
BACKFIRE Tupolev Tu-26
BADGER Tupolev Tu-16 (Type 39)
BANK North American B-25 Mitchell
BARGE Tupolev Tu-85 (Type 31)
BARK Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik
BAT Tupolev Tu-2
BEAGLE Ilyushin Il-28 (Type 27)
BEAR Tupolev Tu-20 (Type 40)
BEAST Ilyushin Il-10 Shturmovik
BEAUTY Tupolev Tu-22 (replaced by BLINDER because it was considered too laudatory)
BISON Myassishchev Mya-3M / Mya-4 (Type 37)
BLACKJACK Tupolev Tu-160 (RAM-P)
BLINDER Tupolev Tu-22
BLOWLAMP Ilyushin Il-54
BOB Ilyushin Il-4 (DB-3F)
BOOT Tupolev Tu-91 Bichok
BOSUN Tupolev Tu-14 (Tu-89) (Type 35)
BOUNDER Myassishchev M-50/52
BOX Douglas DB-7 Boston (A-20 Havoc)
BRASSARD Yakovlev Yak-28 (replaced by BREWER to avoid confusion with French Max Holste Broussard)
BRAWNY Ilyushin Il-40
BREWER Yakovlev Yak-28
BUCK Petlyakov Pe-2
BUICK Petlyakov Pe-2 (replaced by BUCK because it was considered too laudatory)
BULL Tupolev Tu-4
BUTCHER Tupolev Tu-82 (also mistakenly ascribed to Il-28, then no longer in use because of possible confusion with BADGER)

 

[Stargazer]

CARGO & TRANSPORT

CAB Lisunov Li-2
CAMBER Ilyushin Il-86
CAMEL Tupolev Tu-104
CAMP Antonov An-8
CANDID Ilyushin Il-76
CARELESS Tupolev Tu-154
CART Tupolev Tu-70/75
CASH Antonov An-28
CAT Antonov An-10 Ukraina
CHAN Harbin Y-11
CHARGER Tupolev Tu-144 (RAM-H)
CLAM Ilyushin Il-18 Moskva (Il-18D)
CLANK Antonov An-30
CLASSIC Ilyushin Il-62
CLEAT Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya
CLINE Antonov An-32
CLOBBER Yakovlev Yak-42
CLOD Antonov An-14 Pchelka
CLOG Antonov An-28 (same as An-14M)
COACH Ilyushin Il-12
COALER Antonov An-72 / -74
COCK Antonov An-22 Antei
CODLING Yakovlev Yak-40
COKE Antonov An-24
COLT Antonov An-2 / -4 / -6 Kolkozhnik
CONDOR Antonov An-124 Ruslan
COOKER Tupolev Tu-110
COOKPOT Tupolev Tu-124
COOT Ilyushin Il-18 / -20
CORK Yakovlev Yak-16
COSSACK Antonov An-225 Mriya
CRATE Ilyushin Il-14
CREEK Yakovlev Yak-12
CRIB Yakovlev Yak-6 / -8
CROW Yakovlev Yak-10
CRUSTY Tupolev Tu-134
CUB Antonov An-12
CUFF Beriev Be-30
CURL Antonov An-26

 

[Stargazer]

FIGHTERS

FACEPLATE Mikoyan Ye-2/A
FAGOT Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (Type 14)
FAITHLESS Mikoyan Ye-230 (MiG-23-01) (also as Ye-23DPD?)
FALCON Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (replaced by FAGOT because it was considered too laudatory)
FANG Lavochkin La-11
FANTAIL Lavochkin La-15 (Type 21)
FANTAN Nanchang Q-5
FARGO Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 (Type 1)
FARMER Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19
FATEFUL Tupolev Tu-128 (redesignated as FIDDLER-A)
FEARLESS Advanced Soviet Fighter, a variable geometry twin-jet hypothesized by USAF for flight simulators
FEATHER Yakovlev Yak-15 / -17 (Type 2, Type 16)
FENCER Sukhoi Su-19 / -24
FIDDLER Tupolev Tu-28 (Tu-102)
FIN Lavochkin La-7
FINBACK Shenyang J-8
FIREBAR Yakovlev Yak-28/P
FIRKIN Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut
FISHBED Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
FISHPOT Sukhoi Su-9 / -11
FITTER Sukhoi Su-7 / -17 / -20 / -22
FLAGON Sukhoi Su-15 / "Su-21"
FLANKER Sukhoi Su-27/ -30 / -33 / -35 / -37 (RAM-K) / Shenyang J-11
FLASHLIGHT Yakovlev Yak-25/ -27?
FLATPACK Mikoyan MiG-1.44 ("MFI")
FLIPPER Mikoyan-Gurevich I-152 / Ye-152A / Ye-166
FLOGGER Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 / -27 (also applied to the Mikoyan E-231 prototype)
FLORA Yakovlev Yak-23 (Type 28)
FLOUNDER Xian JH-7
FORGER Yakovlev Yak-38
FOXBAT Mikoyan MiG-25 (also applied to the Mikoyan E-266 prototype)
FOXHOUND Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31
FRANK Yakovlev Yak-9
FRED Bell P-63 Kingcobra
FREEHAND Yakovlev Yak-36
FREESTYLE Yakovlev Yak-141 (RAM-T)
FRESCO Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (Type 38)
FRITZ Lavochkin La-9
FROG supposedly allocated to a missile, no details
FROGFOOT Sukhoi Su-25 / -28 (RAM-J)
FROSTY Tupolev Tu-10 (Tu-72) (or a supposed fighter version of the BRAWNY?)
FULCRUM Mikoyan MiG-29 / -30 / -33 etc.
FULLBACK Sukhoi Su-32, Su-27IB, Su-34
FULMAR Yakovlev Yak-41 (Yak-141) (name initially considered for FREESTYLE)

 

[Stargazer]

HELICOPTERS

HAITUN* Z-9 (China) (*Chinese name, perhaps reused by NATO?)
HALO Mil Mi-26
HARE Mil V-1 / Mi-1 / Mi-3 (Type 32)
HARKE Mil Mi-10
HARP Kamov Ka-20
HAT Kamov Ka-10
HAVOC Mil Mi-28
HAZE Mil Mi-14
HELIX Kamov Ka-27 / -28 / -29 / -31 / -32
HEN Kamov Ka-15
HERMIT Mil Mi-34
HIND Mil Mi-24 / -25 / -35
HIP Mil V-8 / Mi-8 / - 9 / -13 /- 17 / -171
HOG Kamov Ka-18
HOKUM Kamov Ka-41?, Ka-50 Blackshark / -52 Alligator
HOMER Mil V-12 / Mi-12
HOODLUM Kamov Ka-26 / -126 / -128? / -226
HOOK Mil V-6 / Mi-6 / Mi-22
HOOP Kamov Ka-22 Vintokrulya
HOPLITE Mil Mi-2
HORMONE Kamov Ka-25
HORSE Yakovlev Yak-24
HOUND Mil V-4 / Mi-4 (Type 36)

 

[Stargazer]

MISCELLANEOUS (TRAINERS, AEW, GLIDERS etc.)

MADCAP Antonov An-72C (also An-71?)
MADGE Beriev Be-6 (Type 34)
MAESTRO Yakovlev Yak-28U
MAGNET Yakovlev Yak-17UTI (Type 26)
MAGNUM Yakovlev Yak-30
MAIDEN Sukhoi Su-9U / -11U
MAIL Beriev M-12 / Be-12
MAINRING KJ-2000
MAINSTAY Beriev A-50 (Ilyushin Il-76 modification)
MALLOW Beriev M-10 / Be-10
MANDRAKE Yakovlev Yak-25RV
MANGROVE Yakovlev Yak-27R
MANTIS Yakovlev Yak-32
MARE Yakovlev Yak-14 glider (Type 24)
MARK Yakovlev Yak-7U (also known as UTI-26)
MASCOT Ilyushin Il-28U (Type 30)
MAX Yakovlev Yak-18
MAXDOME Ilyushin Il-82
MAY Ilyushin Il-38
MAYA Aero L-29 Delfin
MERMAID Beriev Be-40/42/44 (TAG-D)
MIDAS Ilyushin Il-78
MIDGET Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI (Type 29)
MINK Yakovlev UT-2
MISER Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-AT (needs confirmation)
MIST Tsibin Ts-25 (Type 25)
MITTEN Yakovlev Yak-130 (needs confirmation)
MOLE Beriev Be-8 (Type 33)
MONGOL Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21U
MOOSE Yakovlev Yak-11
MOP Amtorg/Taganrog GST / MP-7 (version of Consolidated 28 Catalina)
MOSS Tupolev Tu-126
MOTE Beriev Be-2 / MBR-2
MOUJIK Sukhoi Su-7U
MOUSE Yakovlev Yak-18M / -18P
MUG Chetverikov Che-2 / MDR-6
MULE Polikarpov Po-2 Kukuruznik
MYSTIC Myassishchev M-17 Stratosfera / M-55 Geofisika (RAM-M)

 

[Stargazer]

AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES

ACRID AA-6
ADDER AA-12
ALAMO AA-10
ALKALI AA-1
AMOS AA-9
ANAB AA-3
APEX AA-7
APHID AA-8
ARCHER AA-11
ARROW AA-X-13
ASH AA-5
ATOLL AA-2
AWL AA-4

 

[Stargazer]

SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

GADFLY SA-11, SA-N-7
GAFFER —
GAINFUL SA-6
GALOSH ABM-1
GAMMON SA-5
GANEF SA-4
GARGOYLE SA-20
GASKIN SA-9
GAUNTLET SA-15, SA-N-9
GAZELLE ABM-4
GECKO SA-8, SA-N-4
GIANT SA-12B, SA-23
GIMLET SA-16, SA-N-10
GLADIATOR SA-12A, SA-23
GOA SA-3C, SA-N-1
GOBLET SA-N-3
GOPHER SA-13
GORGON ABM-4
GRAIL SA-7, SA-N-5
GREMLIN SA-14, SA-N-8
GREYHOUND SA(-X)-22
GRIFFON SA-5 (then reallocated)
GRINCH SA-24
GRISON SA-19, SA-N-11
GRIZZLY SA-17, SA-N-12
GROUSE SA-18, SA-N-10/14
GROWLER SA-21
GRUMBLE SA-10, SA-N-6
GUIDELINE SA-2, SA-N-2
GUILD SA-1

 

[Stargazer]

AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSILES

KANGAROO AS-3
KAREN AS(-X)-10
KAYAK AS-20
KAZOO AS-18
KEDGE AS-14
KEGLER AS-12
KELT AS-5
KENNEL AS-1
KENT AS(-X)-15
KERRY AS-7
KICKBACK AS-16
KILTER AS(-X)-11
KINGBOLT AS-13
KINGFISH AS-6
KIPPER AS-2
KITCHEN AS-4
KOALA AS(-X)-19
KRAKEN CAS-1
KRYPTON AS-17, AS-X-22
KYLE AS(-X)-9

 

[Stargazer]

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE & ANTI-TANK MISSILES

SABBOT CSS-N-5
SABER SS(-X)-20/ -28
SACCADE CSSC-8
SADDLER SS-7
SADSACK CSSC-7
SAFFLOWER CSS-N-2
SAGGER AT-3 Milyutka
SALISH SSC-2A
SAMLET SSC-2B, CSSC-1
SAMPSON SS-N-21
SANDAL SS-4
SANDBOX SS-N-12
SAPLES CSSC-5
SAPWOOD SS-6
SARDINE CSS-N-4 ?
SARK SS-N-4
SASIN SS-8
SATAN SS-18
SAVAGE SS-13
SAWFLY SS-N-8
SAWHORSE CSSC-6
SAXHORN AT-7, AT-13
SCALEBOARD SS-12, SS-22?
SCALLION AT-16
SCALPEL SS(-X)-24
SCAMP SS-14
SCAPEGOAT SS-14
SCARAB SS-21
SCARP SS-9
SCORPION (SSC-X-5), SS-N(X)-24
SCRAG SS-X-10
SCROOGE SS(-X)-15
SCRUBBER SS-N-1
SCRUBBRUSH CSS-N-1
SCUD SS-1 (except SS-1A)
SCUNNER SS-1A
SEA EAGLE CSSC-2
SEERSUCKER CSSC-3
SEGO SS-11
SENNIGHT SSC-6
SEPAL SSC-1B, SS-N-3B
SERB SS-N-5, SS-N-6
SHADDOCK SSC-1A, SS-N-3
SHIPWRECK SS-N-19
SHYSTER SS-3
SIBLING SS-2
SICKLE SS-25, SS-27
SILEX SS-N-14
SILKWORM CSSC-3
SINNER SS-16
SIREN SS-N-9
SIZZLER SS-N-27
SKEAN SS-5
SKIFF SS-N-23
SLINGSHOT SSC-X-4
SNAPPER AT-1
SNIPE SS-N(X)-17
SNIPER AT-11
SONGSTER AT-8
SPANDREL AT-5
SPANKER SS-17
SPIDER SS-23
SPIGOT AT-4
SPIRAL AT-6, AT-9
SPRIGGAN AT(-X)-14
SPRINGER AT-15
STABBER AT-10
STALLION SS-N-16
STARBRIGHT SS-N-7
STARFISH SS-N-15
STILETTO SS-19
STINGRAY SS-N(X)-18
STONE SS(-X)-26
STOOGE SSC-X-5
STROBILE SS-N-26
STURGEON SS-N-20
STYX SSC-3, SS-N-2
SUNBURN SS-N-22
SWATTER AT-2
SWINGER AT-12
SWITCHBLADE SS-N-25

 

[Stargazer]

AIR-TO-UNDERSEA MISSILES

UGRA SUW-N-1

 

[Steve Pace]

GOOD STUFF Stephane! -SP

 

[Commander31]

HELICOPTERS

HAITUN* Z-9 (China) (*Chinese name, perhaps reused by NATO?)

There was also "Haiou" ("Seagull") for the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) VT-UAV. See here.

 

[Grey Havoc]

I remember when the Tu-22 first appeared, the first code name suggested was based on a comment made about the aircraft's appearance: "Beauty". But that was deemed to be too complimentary, so it ultimately became "Blinder". And don't forget that one of the first great Soviet aircraft of the NATO era was codenamed "Fagot"!

IIRC, when the Tu-28 was thought to be a bomber, it was code-named "Blinder" and the Tu-22 was code-named "Beauty", when the Tu-28 was determined to be an interceptor fighter and given a "F-name", the Tu-22 got the "Blinder" code name because some general didn't want to give it a "nice" code name.

Actually, the Tu-22 supersonic bomber first received the name 'Bullshot' by NATO's NASCC. Since that name obviously sounded a bit too much like a slang alternative to 'nonsense', it was designated 'Beauty' after it's fly-past at the 1961 May Day celebration. This name then was considered too complimentary and was finally changed to 'Blinder' in 1962.