Soviet/Russian and PR China Missile Designations: Introduction
compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 30 November 2003
Main table columns:
- U.S. designation:
- Soviet/Russian--major series are AA- for air-to-air missiles; AS- for air-to-surface missiles; SA- for surface-to-air missiles; ABM- for anti-ballistic missiles; SS- for surface-to-surface ballistic missiles; SS-N- for naval surface-to-surface missiles; SSC- for surface-to-surface cruise missiles; FROG for Free Rocket Over Ground; AT- for anti-tank missiles.
- PRC--major series are like the Soviet/Russian series, adding a leading C for China
- NATO designation: A series for air-to-air missiles; K series for air-to-surface missiles; G series for surface-to-air missiles; S series for surface-to-surface missiles
- U.S. test designation (Soviet/Russian only): intelligence designation during flight-testing
- Soviet designation: cross reference follows the main table
- Soviet name: translations for some names are included in the table below
- Soviet development designation (design des.): design bureau designation
- type: AAM--air-to-air missile; ABM--anti-ballistic missile; ALCM--air-launched cruise missile; ASAT--anti-satellite weapon; ASCM--anti-ship cruise missile; ASM--air-to-surface missile; ASW--anti-submarine weapon; ATM--anti-tank missile; FOBS--fractional orbit bombardment system; GLCM--ground-launched cruise missile; ICBM--intercontinental ballistic missile; ICCM--intercontinental cruise missile; IRBM--intermediate-range ballistic missile; MRBM--medium-range ballistic missile; SAM--surface-to-air missile; SLBM--submarine-launched ballistic missile; SLCM--sea-launched cruise missile; SRBM--short-range ballistic missile; listing of missiles by type follows the main table
- warhead (wh): possible warheads are indicated by H for conventional high explosive, N for nuclear, and C for chemical (includes biological); lower-case letters indicate uncertain capability
- notes: MIRV--multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles; MRV--multiple reentry vehicles
- equivalents: designations for alternate applications of same missile
- deployed: approximate year initially operational
- retired: approximate year of retirement (for some dual capable systems dates refer to nuclear versions only)
- design bureau: indicates original design bureau and/or current manufacturer
Translations of Russian names:
| Russian | English | Missile(s) |
|---|
| Alfa | alpha | (3M54 ASCM) |
| Ataka | attack | AT-9 |
| Bastion | bastion | (Yakhont GLCM), AT-10 |
| Bazalt | basalt | SS-N-12 |
| Buk | beech | SA-10/11 |
| Burya | tempest | AS-4, (La-350 ICCM) |
| Fagot | bassoon | AT-4 |
| Fort | fort | SA-N-6 |
| Granat | garnet | SS-N-21 |
| Granit | granite | SS-N-19 |
| Grom | thunder | AS-7 |
| Igla | needle | SA-16/18, SA-N-5/10 |
| Izdeliye | model | AA-8/10/11/12, AS-11/14 |
| Kashtan | chestnut | SA-N-11 export |
| Kinshal | dagger | SA-N-9 |
| Klinok | blade | SA-N-8 |
| Kornet | cornet | AT-14 |
| Kortik | cutlass | SA-N-11 |
| Krug | circle | SA-4 |
| Kub | cube | SA-6 |
| Kvadrat | square | SA-6 export |
| Luna | moon | FROG-3/7 |
| Malyutka | miniature | AT-3 |
| Molodets | gentleman | SS-24 |
| Moskit | mosquito | (Kh-41 ASM), SS-N-22 |
| Osa | wasp | SA-8, SA-N-4 |
| Ovod | gadfly | AS-13/18 |
| Pantsir | armour | SA-19 |
| Pioner | pioneer | SS-20 |
| Pobeda | victory | SS-3 |
| Refleks | reflex | AT-11 |
| Rif | reef | SA-N-6 |
| Romb | rhombus | SA-8 |
| Semyorka | little old seven | SS-6 |
| Sheksna | Sheksna (river) | SS-7, AT-12 |
| Shtil | calm | SA-N-7, SS-N-23 |
| Shtorm | gale | SA-N-3 |
| Shturm | assault | AT-6 |
| Skorpion | scorpion | AT-6 |
| Sorokovka | forty | (Project 40 ICCM) |
| Strela | arrow | SA-7/9/13/14, SA-N-5/8 |
| Taifun | typhoon | SS-N-20 |
| Tochka | point | SS-21 |
| Topol | poplar tree | SS-25, SS-X-29 |
| Treugolnik | triangle | SA-19 |
| Tsiklon | cyclone | SS-9 |
| Uragan | hurricane | SA-N-7 |
| Ural | Ural (mountains) | SA-17 |
| Uran | uranium | AS-20 |
| Vihkr | whirlwind | AT-9/16 |
| Voevoda | commander | SS-18 |
| Volga | Volga (river) | SA-5 |
| Volna | wave | SA-N-1, SS-N-18 |
| Vyuga | blizzard | SS-N-15 |
| Yedinichka | one | SS-1a |
| Zemlya | earth | SS-1b/c |
| Zyb | tooth | SS-N-6 |
Translations of Chinese names:
| Chinese | English | Missile(s) |
|---|
| Dong Feng | East Wind | DF- series |
| Feilung | Flying Dragon | FL- series |
| Feimeng | Flying Midge | FM-80/90 |
| Hong Jian | Red Arrow | HJ- series |
| Hong Nu | Red Cherry | HN- series |
| Hongqi | Red Flag | HQ- series |
| Hai Yang | Sea Eagle | HY- series |
| Ju Lang | Great Wave | JL-1/2 |
| Pen Lung | Air Dragon | PL- series |
| Shui Ying | Sea Eagle | SY-1 |
| Ying Ji | Eagle Strike | YJ- series |
Sources, Soviet/Russian listing:
- Chant, Christopher, 1988, World Encylopedia of Modern Air Weapons, Patrick Stephens (Wellingborough, England).
- Chinese Defence Today, 2003, on line [http://www.sinodefence.com/].
- "Chinese Missiles", 2003, on line, Global Security.org [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile.htm].
- Cochran, Thomas B., William M. Arkin, Robert S. Norris, and Jeffrey I. Sands, 1989, Nuclear Weapons Databook Vol. IV: Soviet Nuclear Weapons, Harper and Row (New York, NY).
- "Commonwealth Missiles," March 1993, Air Force Magazine, 67-82.
- "Commonwealth Missiles," June 1992, Air Force Magazine, 62-68.
- Foss, Christopher F., 21 Aug. 1993, "Russia Puts 'Pinpoint' Missile on the Market," Jane's Defence Weekly, 9.
- Friedman, Norman, 1994, The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1994 Update, U.S. Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MY).
- Jane's Defense Weekly, 24 April 1993, 20-21.
- Taylor, John W. R., June 1991, "Gallery of Soviet Missiles," Air Force Magazine, 70-74.
- Lenorovitz, Jeffrey M., 9 Aug. 1993, "Russian Maker of SLBMs Seeks Civilian Spin-Offs," Aviation Week and Space Technology, 48-49.
- Norris, Robert S., and Arkin, William M., 1987-1996, "Nuclear Notebook," The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, various issues.
- Polmar, Norman, Jan. 1994 "The Republic Navies: Was That a Snipe Going Over?", Proceedings, 89-90.
- "Russians Test-Fire 'Sickle' ICBM Variant," 14 Jan. 1995, Jane's Defence Weekly.
- "Soviet ICBM May Have Test-Launched," 4 Sept. 1991, Jane's Defence Weekly, 466.
- Wright, Barton, 1986, World Weapon Database, Vol. I: Soviet Missiles, Lexington Books (Lexington, MA).
- Zaloga, Steven J., 8 Jan. 1996, "Missiles Ride Gulf War Wave," Aviation Week and Space Technology, 129-147.
- Zaloga, Steven J., 1989, Soviet Air Defense Missiles: Design, Development and Tactics, Jane's Information Group (Carlson, England).
- Zaloga, Steven J., 1993, Target America: The Soviet Union and the Strategic Arms Race, 1945-1964, Presidio Press (Novato, CA).
- Zhang, Yihong, and Christopher F. Foss, 9 Jan. 2001, "Upgraded Chinese KS-1 SAM revealed," Jane's Defence Weekly, on line [http://www.janes.com/defence/land_forces/news/jdw/jdw010109_4_n.shtml].
Sources, PRC listing:
- Beaver, Paul, "Cina flexes muscles in missile exercise," 4 Aug. 1999, Jane's Defence Weekly, 5.
- Beaver, Paul, "China prepares to field new missile," 24 Feb. 1999, Jane's Defence Weekly, 3.
- Chant, Christopher, 1988, World Encylopedia of Modern Air Weapons, Patrick Stephens (Wellingborough, England).
- Friedman, Norman, The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1989, U.S. Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MY).
- Friedman, Norman, The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1994 Update, 1994, U.S. Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MY).
- Jane's, "Air-to-Ground Missile Projects," 9 Sept. 1998, Jane's Defence Weekly, 74-75.
- Lennox, Duncan, "China's new cruise missile programme 'racing ahead'," 12 Jan. 2000, Jane's Defence Weekly, 33:2:12.
- Lennox, Duncan, "A consistent policy," 11 Aug. 1999, Jane's Defence Weekly, 20-23.
- Lennox, Duncan, "More details on Chinese cruise missile programme", 6 Sept. 2000, Jane's Defence Weekly, 34:9:19.
- Lewis, John Wilson, and Hua Di, Fall 1992, "China's Ballistic Missile Programs: Technologies, Strategies, Goals," International Security, 17:2:5-40.
- Norris, Robert S., Andrew S. Burrows, and Richard S. Fieldhouse, 1994, Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol. V: British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons, Westview Press (Boulder, CO).
- Sae-Liu, Robert, "Beijing parade to show off latest missile hardware," 11 Aug. 1999, Jane's Defence Weekly, 11.
- Taylor, Michael, ed., 1996, Brassey's World Aircraft and Systems Directory, Brassey's (London, UK).
- Zaloga, Steven J., "Precision Strike Key to U.S. Force Projection," 14 Jan. 2002, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 156:2:177-195.
© 1996, 2002, 2003 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 30 November 2003.
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