# NATO names for Russian fighters-Pre-written list? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877 "2001-10-02T01:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/1 "2001-10-02T01:39:20Z")
Pardon me for posting, but I was wondering… I know NATO gives it’s own designations to Russian fighter aircraft (And other Russian aircraft too, but that’s another matter), the fighter designations all starting with the letter “F”, such as “Fulcrum”, “Flanker”, “Foxbat”, etc. But I was wondering…Are these names taken from a pre-existing list of code names, or does someone at NATO HQ have to make up a new name every time a new fighter model is designed? Thanks in advance, Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/2 "2001-10-02T01:57:19Z")
From the rec.aviation.military FAQ: > [@](#): > > During the Cold War, it was common for the West to know (or suspect) that an aircraft existed in the Soviet inventory, but not know its correct designation. Even when the USSR released publicity pictures of their aircraft (or allowed Western journalists to film them flying past during > displays), the aircraft’s name was usually never mentioned. Because of this, a system of codenames was invented by NATO. > > Each type was given a name starting with “B” for bombers, “C” for cargo or passenger transports, “F” for fighters, “H” for helicopters, or “M” for miscellaneous (everything else). Fixed-wing aircraft received names with one syllable if they were propeller-driven, two syllables if they were jets (there is no rule for the number of syllables in a helicopter’s codename). Variants were indicated by suffix letters (e.g. the fourth version of the MiG-25 “Foxbat” to be identified became “Foxbat-D”). > > With the modern opening up of the Russian military, it’s becoming more common to refer to Russian aircraft by their real designations (now better known in the West). Some recent types haven’t been given codenames, and the system seems likely to disappear altogether in the near future. It appears that the names are simply thought up as required, within the parameters set out as above (e.g., one syllable for prop planes, two for jets, etc.). I recall reading somwhere (I have no idea where, though - just one of those vague “recollections”) that the Russians were somewhat distraught upon hearing that the codename for the Su-25 was “Frogfoot”. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/3 "2001-10-02T03:28:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darwin’s Finch \* > \*\* > I recall reading somwhere (I have no idea where, though - just one of those vague “recollections”) that the Russians were somewhat distraught upon hearing that the codename for the Su-25 was “Frogfoot”. \*\* Not much worse than the MiG-15 Fagot or the MiG-21 Fishbed. ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/4 "2001-10-02T16:53:23Z")
My understanding is that the names were made up at the time the aircraft’s existence was first reasonably suspected. They do indeed reflect the times in which they were devised. “Frogfoot” is a Reagan-era name, as is “Hokum”. “Fulcrum” and “Flanker” date from when things had improved between NATO and the USSR somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/5 "2001-10-02T17:53:48Z")
That would be the work of the NATO Air Standards Co-ordinating Committee (ASCC), then. They allocated names to Russian and Chinese aircraft from 1954 to around 1990, when the ‘native’ names started to be used. [http://www.worldairforces.com/Misc/natoascc.html](http://www.worldairforces.com/Misc/natoascc.html) [http://www.gsansom.demon.co.uk/vfaero/lists/natoname.htm](http://www.gsansom.demon.co.uk/vfaero/lists/natoname.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-names-for-russian-fighters-pre-written-list/84877/6 "2001-10-02T20:29:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darwin’s Finch \* > \*\* > I recall reading somwhere (I have no idea where, though - just one of those vague “recollections”) that the Russians were somewhat distraught upon hearing that the codename for the Su-25 was “Frogfoot”. \*\* And what if it had turned into war ? “He was last seen diving into combat against six Frogfeet” is NOT a suitable epitaph for a patriotic airman. Sidenote: I watched a BBC show about the Spitfire that ended with noting that a suggested name for that magnificent plane had been “Shrew”. [BBC-british voice]“_Shrew ?_” - “A squadron of _Shrews_ ?” - it might have lost os the bloody war! [/BBC-british voice] S. Norman