AFI16-401 governs the designation and naming of defense military aerospace vehicles across the Department of Defense.
View AFI16-401 on armypubs.army.mil
It defines organizational roles, MDS designator symbols, and the relationship between official designators and popular names. It establishes processes for requesting, approving, retiring, reactivating, and publishing MDS designators and popular names.
Applies to: 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.
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. (paragraph 1)
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. (paragraph 4)
One of the following conditions applies: 6.1.1.1. The vehicle’s MDS designator and/or popular name is currently active/approved. 6.1.1.2. All vehicles within a specific MDS designator and/or popular name have been retired from the service’s (or services’) inventor(ies). 6.1.1.3. All vehicles within a specific MDS designator and/or popular name will be retired from the service’s (or services’) inventory(ies) within 90 calendar days. (paragraph 2)
One of the following conditions apply: 6.2.1.1. The vehicle’s MDS designator and/or popular name is currently retired. 6.2.1.2. All vehicles have been returned to their retired MDS and popular name (if applicable) or vehicles have been modified to a retired MDS and popular name (if applicable). 6.2.1.3. All vehicles will be returned to its retired MDS and popular name (if applicable) or vehicles will be modified to a retired MDS and popular name (if applicable) within 90 calendar days. (paragraph 2)
The list displays the approved MDS designator, manufacturer(s), approved popular name (if any), engine data, using department(s), and a brief description of the vehicle. (paragraph 2)