Swedish Military Aircraft Designations

HTML formatting Copyright © 2001-2006 Andreas Parsch
Designation listings based on lists compiled by Urban Fredriksson

1 Swedish Aircraft Designation System

2 Designation Listing

3 Sources and Additional Information

1 Swedish Aircraft Designation System

From its creation in 1926, the Swedish Air Force used an aircraft designation similar in concept to the current U.S. system, using type letters, model numbers, and series letters. When the Army and Navy obtained own aircraft after 1926 (mostly helicopters, but including a few fixed-wing aircraft), they also used this designation system.

Examples: B 3 A
Trp 3
J 35 B
Sk 35 C
(1)   (2) (3)

The basic designation consists of mission/type letter(s) (1) and a number (2). Initially, each mission/type code used a separate model number series (as in the current U.S. system). However, this was changed in 1940, when it was decided that each basic type should receive a unique number regardless of its mission. This is similar to the current Canadian system. Aircraft of the same basic type modified for different missions use the same number, prefixed by the appropriate mission letter. Multimission aircraft use several mission letters. Note that there is no dash between the mission letter(s) and the model number.

Initially, the numbers were assigned to reflect manufacturers' or U.S. military designations (e.g. AT-16 = Sk 16, C-45 = Tp 45, Saab 91 = Tp 91). Types within the same braod category (like combat, transport, training, etc.) were then often given the next number, which resulted in several non-overlapping "sequences" of designations. The gaps between these sequences are of no special significance. Numbers from 801 and up were used for leased aircraft. The only "real" designation in this range, however, is the Fpl 801.

The following mission/type codes are defined:

Note: Multiletter type codes (Fpl, Hkp, Sk, Tp) are now usually written in all capitals (FPL, HKP, SK, TP). This new spelling was apparently introduced around 1964. For the sake of consistency, I use the mixed-case prefixes for all designations in this document.

Gliders were numbered in a special series, using numbers 101 and up, and the following prefixes:

The suffix letter (3) is optional and indicates a modification. The letters are assigned alphabetically. Originally, the first version used no suffix letter, the first modification used "A", etc. Since the J28, the standard pratice is to add suffixes as needed. If there is only a single version of a type, it uses no suffix, but when several variants are planned or procured from the start, the first gets suffix "A", the second "B", etc. If no suffix was initially used, and additional variants are added to the inventory, the new versions receive suffixes "B", "C", etc. The original un-suffixed version is sometimes (but not always, possibly depending on whether it has already been operational or not) redesignated with an "A" suffix.

A few special suffixes were used on some early types to designate different landing gear configurations:

2 Designation Listing

The listings are provided in two parts. The first listings include the pre-1940 designations, and are divided into the various mission/type series.

The post-1940 designations are provided in a single list, reflecting the practice of using a unique number for each basic aircraft type. Helicopters are still listed separately, because their numbering sequence started at 1, and doesn't integrate well into the aeroplane model number series.

2.1 Designations 1926 - 1940

A - Attack

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
A 1 FVM/Phönix C.I E2

B - Bomb (Bomber)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
B 1 Fiat BR
B 2 Fiat BR.I
B 3 Junkers Ju 86K-1; variants include B 3A (Ju 86K-4), B 3B (Ju 86K-5), B 3C (Junkers/Saab Ju 86K-13), B 3C-2 (modified B 3A/B) and B 3D (modified B 3C)
B 4 Hawker Hart; originally designated S 7; variant B 4A (originally S 7A) built by ASJA/CVM/Götaverken
B 5 Northrop 8A-1; variants include B 5A and Saab/Northrop B 5B/C
B 6 Republic Guardsman
B 7 Fokker G.Ib; never delivered, would have been redesignated B 26
B 8 Saab L-10; became B 17 in 1940

J - Jakt (Fighter)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
J 1 FVM/Phönixwerke based on D.II or D.III
J 2 Nieuport-Delage ND-29C-1
J 3 Fokker C.VD; variants include J 3A and J 3B (built by CVM); redesignated as S 6 (J 3B) and S 6A (J 3/3A) in 1931
J 4 Heinkel/Svenska Aero HD 19
J 5 Svenska Aero Jaktfalken
J 6 Svenska Aero Jaktfalk I (J 6) and II (J 6A/B)
J 7 Bristol Bulldog II/IIA
J 8 Gloster Gladiator I (J 8) and II (J 8A)
J 9 Seversky/Republic EP-106
J 10 Vultee Vanguard 48C-1; never delivered
J 11 Fiat CR.42bis Falco
J 12 Reggiane Re 2000; became J 20 in 1940

Ö - Övning (Advanced Trainer)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
Ö 1 FVM/CFM Tummalisa
Ö 2 FVM Albatros C.I
Ö 3 Gloster Grouse Mk II
Ö 4 FVM/Phönix C.I E1 Dront
Ö 5 FVM/Phönix C.I E3 Dront
Ö 6 Bristol F.2B Fighter
Ö 7 SvA SA-10 Piraten
Ö 8 SvA SA-13 Övningsfalken
Ö 9 ASJA Typ 2
Ö 10   TB; not built

P - Prov (Trials, Prototypes and Other)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
P 1 Sparmann S 1-A "Sparmannjagare"
P 2 Focke-Wulf FW 44; became Sk 12 in 1937
P 3 Sparmann E4; not built
P 4 Fieseler Fi 156K-1; became S 14 in 1940
P 5 Handley Page Hampden Mk I
P 6 Focke-Wulf Fw 58KJ-1/Fw 58KO-1/Fw 58KO-2 Weihe
P 7 Saab L-10-2 (P 7A; prototype for B 17A), L-10-1 (P 7B; prototype for B 17B)
P 8 Saab L-11 (Saab 18); prototype for B 18
P 8A AFF/ASJA G.1; not built
P 8B Götaverken GP 8; not built
P 9A Saab L-12; became P 19 and later J 19; not built
P 9B Götaverken GP 9; not built

S - Spaning (Reconnaissance)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
S 1 CVM S 21/S 25
S 2 Caspar/Sv.Aero/TDS Heinkel S.I Hansa Brandenburg
S 3 Svenska Aero/CFS Heinkel S.II Hansa Brandenburg
S 4 Heinkel HE 4 Hansa
S 5 Svenska Aero HE 5 Hansa; variants include S 5A/B (Sv.Aero/CFV HE 5/t), S 5B (CVV He 5/t) and S 5C/D (CVV He 5/t TB)
S 6 Fokker/CVM C.VE (ex J 3B); variants include S 6A (Fokker/CVM C.VD; ex J 3/3A) and S 6B (CVM C.VE)
S 7 Hawker Hart (became B 4); S 7A (became B 4A) variant built by ASJA/CVM
S 8 Svenska Aero/ASJA SA 15; cancelled
S 9 Hawker Osprey
S 10 Breguet 694; never delivered
S 11 Dornier Do 215; never delivered
S 12 Heinkel He 114B-1
S 13 Fokker G.I; never delivered, would have been redesignated S 26
S 14 Fieseler Fi 156K-1 Storch; variants include S 14A (Fi 156C) and S 14B (Fi 156C-3/Trop)
S 15 Saab L-10 (Saab 17); became S 17 in 1940

Sk - Skol (Trainer)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
Sk 1 Albatros Model 120, B.IIa
Sk 2 Friedrichshafen/TDS FF 33J
Sk 3 Avro 504K
Sk 4 Heinkel/Svenska Aero HD 24; variants include Sk 4A/B (modified Sk 4)
Sk 5 Heinkel HD 35
Sk 6 Heinkel HD 36; variant Sk 6A built by CFM
Sk 7 DeHavilland D.H.60X/M Cirrus/Gipsy Moth
Sk 8 Svenska Aero SA-12 Skolfalken
Sk 9 DeHavilland D.H.60T Moth Trainer
Sk 10 ASJA RK 26 Tiger-Schwalbe
Sk 11 DeHavilland/ASJA D.H.82 Tiger Moth; variants include Sk 11A (D.H.82A)
Sk 12 Focke-Wulf/ASJA/CVV Fw 44J Stieglitz
(Sk 13) Not assigned
Sk 14 North American/Saab NA-16-4M; variants include Sk 14A and SK 14N (rebuilt with nosewheel)
Sk 15 Klemm Kl 35B/D; variants include Sk 15A/B (Kl 35D) and Sk 15C (Kl 35DW)
Sk 16 North American Texan/Harvard; details in the post-1940 table, q.v.

T - Torped (Torpedo)

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
T 1 Heinkel HD 16
T 2 Heinkel He 115A-2

Tp - Transport

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
Trp 1 Junkers/Flygindustri Ju F 13fe/F 13de
Trp 2 Junkers/Flygindustri Ju W 33g; variants include Trp 2A (Ju W 34h)
Trp 3 DeHavilland D.H.90 Dragonfly
Trp 4 Beechcraft 18R
Tp 5 Junkers Ju 52/3m ci, Ju 52/3m vai
Tp 6 Fairchild Model 24 De Luxe
Tp 7 Miles M 3A Falcon Major
Tp 8 Waco UIC-4; variants include Tp 8A (ZQC-6)
Trp 9 ASJA Viking II; never ordered, number reused
Tp 9 Junkers Ju 86Z-7
Tp 10 Fokker F.VIII

2.2 Designations since 1940

Aeroplanes

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
B/S/T/Tp 16 Caproni Ca 313S; variants include B 16A (became S 16A), S 16A (ex B 16A), S 16B (ex T 16A), T 16A (became S 16B) and Tp 16A (ex S 16A)
Sk 16 North American Texan/Harvard; variants include Sk 16A (AT-16), Sk 16B (T-6, BC-1A, SNJ) and Sk 16C (SNJ-2); number "16" reused as continuation of pre-1940 Sk-series and/or to keep number from "AT-16" designation
B/S 17 Saab L-10 (Saab 17); variants include B 17A/B/C, S 17BL (ex B 17B) and S 17BS (ex S 17BL)
B/S/T 18 Saab Saab 18; variants include B 18A/B, S 18A (rebuilt B 18A) and T 18B
J 19 Saab L-12; not built
J 20 Reggiane Re 2000 Falco; originally designated J 12
A/J 21 Saab Saab 21; variants include J 21A-1, J 21A-2, A 21A-3 and J 21B
A 21R Saab Saab 21R; variants include A 21RA (originally designated J 21R) and A 21RB
J/S 22 FFVS FFVS 22; variants include P 22 (prototypes), J 22-1/2 and S 22-3
J 23 Saab L-23; project only
B/J 24 Saab L-24; cancelled, number reused
Tp 24 Dornier Do 24T-1
Sk 25 Bücker Bü 181B Bestmann
Sk 26 Saab Saab 26 (improved Sk 14); cancelled, number reused
B/S 26 Fokker G.I; originally B 7 and S 13; cancelled, number reused
J/S 26 North American P-51D Mustang; variants include J 26 and S 26 (modified J 26)
J 27 Saab L-27; cancelled
A/J/Sk 28 DeHavilland D.H.100 Vampire; variants include J 28A (Vampire F.1; later A 28A), J 28B (Vampire FB.50; later A 28B) and Sk 28C (Vampire T.55)
A/J/S 29 Saab Tunnan; variants include J 29A, J 29B (a.k.a. A 29B), S 29C, J 29E (modified J 29B) and J 29F (modified J 29B/E; a.k.a. A 29F)
J 30 DeHavilland D.H.98 Mosquito NF.19
S 31 Supermarine Spitfire PR.19
A/J/S 32 Saab Lansen; variants include A 32A, J 32B, S 32C, J 32D (modified J 32B) and J 32E (modified J 32B)
J 33 DeHavilland D.H.112 Venom NF.51
J 34 Hawker Hunter F.50
J/S/Sk 35 Saab Draken; variants include J 35A, J 35B, Sk 35C (rebuilt J 35A), J 35D, S 35E, J 35F1, J 35F2 and J 35J (rebuilt J 35F)
A 36 Saab nuclear bomber; cancelled
AJ/JA/... 37 Saab Viggen; variants include AJ 37, AJS 37 (modified AJ 37), AJSF 37 (modified SF 37), AJSH 37 (modified SH 37), JA 37, SF 37 (photo reconnaissance), SH 37 (maritime surveillance), Sk 37 and Sk 37E (Sk 37 modified for ECM)
A/Sk 38 Saab Saab 38; cancelled
JAS 39 Saab Gripen; variants include JAS 39A, JAS 39B (two-seater), JAS 39C (improved JAS 39A) and JAS 39D (two-seat version of JAS 39C)

Tp 45 Beechcraft C-45
Tp 46 DeHavilland D.H.104 Dove
Tp 47 Convair PBY Catalina
(48) (No information)
(49) (No information)
Sk 50 Saab Saab 91B/C Safir; variants include Sk 50B (Saab 91B) and Sk 50C (Saab 91C)
Fpl 51 Piper PA-18; variants include Fpl 51A (PA-18-350 Super Cub) and Fpl 51B (PA-18-135 L-21B)
Tp 52 English Electric Canberra (ELINT version)
Fpl 53 Dornier Do 27
Fpl 54 MFI MFI 10 Vipan
Tp 54 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo
Tp 55 DeHavilland-Canada DHC-4 Caribou

Sk 60 Saab Saab 105 (was to be Sk 55, but Saab asked for number 60); variants include Sk 60A, Sk 60B (rebuilt Sk 60A), Sk 60C (rebuilt Sk 60B) and Sk 60D/E
Sk/Fpl 61 Scottish Aviation Bulldog; variants include Sk 61A/B/C/D/E and Fpl 61C

Tp 78 Noorduyn Norseman
Tp 79 Douglas C-47 Dakota
Tp 80 Avro Lancaster Mk.I
Tp 81 Grumman Goose
Tp 82 Vickers Varsity
Tp 83 Percival Pembroke C.52
Tp 84 Lockheed C-130H Hercules
Tp 85 SNIAS Caravelle
Tp 86 Rockwell Sabreliner
Tp 87 Cessna Model 404
Tp 88 Fairchild Metro III; variants include Tp 88, Tp 88B (Metro/Merlin IV C) and TP 88C (Metro III)
SH/Tp 89 CASA Model 212 Aviocar
(90) Probably not assigned, to avoid confusion with the Saab 90 Scandia airliner
Tp 91 Saab Saab 91A Safir
92 - Number used for RB 05A missile training simulator
93 - Number used for JA 37 part task training
(94) (No information)
(95) (No information)
(96) (No information)
97 - Number used for Draken simulator
98 - Number used for Viggen simulator
(99) (No information)
S/Tp 100 Saab Saab 340; variants include Tp 100A/C (Saab 340B), S 100B (Saab 340 AEW Argus) and OS 100 (modified Tp 100A)
Tp 101 Beech Super King Air 200
S/Tp 102 Gulfstream Gulfstream IV; variants include Tp 102A/C and S 102B (Gulfstream IV Korpen)
Tp 103 Cessna Citation II

Fpl 801 MFI MFI-9B Mili-trainer

Helicopters

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
Hkp 1 Vertol Model 44
Hkp 2 SNIAS Alouette II (originally designated Tp 84 in the first 6 months!)
Hkp 3 Agusta/Bell AB 204B; variants include Hkp 3B (Air Force) and Hkp 3C (Navy)
Hkp 4 Vertol Model 107-II; variants include Hkp 4A (Air Force), Hkp 4B (Navy; Model 107-II-15), Hkp 4C (Navy; Model 107-II-16) and Hkp 4D (Navy; modified Hkp 4A)
Hkp 5 Hughes/Schweizer Model 269/300; variants include Hkp 5 (Hughes 269A) and Hkp 5B (Schweizer 300C)
Hkp 6 Agusta/Bell AB-206A Jet Ranger; variants include Hkp 6A (Army), Hkp 6B (Navy) and Hkp 6C (Air Force)
Hkp 7 - Designation reserved for planned ASW helicopter; not used, because Vertol 107-II-16 (Hkp 4C) was selected
Hkp 8 - Designation reserved for planned SAR helicopter; not used, because Bo 105CBS (Hkp 9B) was selected
Hkp 9 MBB Bo 105; variants include Hkp 9A (Army; Bo 105CB-3) and Hkp 9B (Air Force; Bo 105CBS)
Hkp 10 Eurocopter AS.332M Super Puma
Hkp 11 Agusta/Bell AB-412HP
Hkp 12 - Designation reserved for planned medium helicopter; cancelled and superseeded by Hkp 14 program
(Hkp 13) (No information; most probably not assigned)
Hkp 14 NH Industries NH-90
Hkp 15 Agusta A109M

Gliders

Designation Manufacturer Model; Remarks
G 101 AB Flygindustri Swedish version of Zögling SG-38
Se 102 AB Flygplan Swedish version of Schneider Grunau Baby IIB-2
Se 103 AB Flygplan Swedish version of DFS Kranich B-1
Se 104 AB Flygindustri Swedish version of DFS Weihe
Lg 105 AB Flygindustri Fi 3

3 Sources and Additional Information

The information presented on this page has been obtained almost exclusively from Urban Fredriksson's Swedish (and Worldwide) Military Aviation web site. Please refer to Urban's site for detailed and extensive information about Swedish military aviation, including descriptions and photographs of almost all of the aircraft (including many prototypes and projects).





Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch



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Last Updated: 4 October 2006