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Guides·NATO Reporting Names

NATO reporting names for missiles

Every NATO and US DoD designation assigned to Soviet, Russian and Chinese missiles, matched to the system it stands for — with the two-letter prefix grammar that encodes launch platform and target before the name is even read.

Names on file
238
Linked to a page
184
Type groups
5
Entered service
1955→ 2024

How the designations are built

The two-letter prefix encodes launch platform and target: AA is air-to-air, AS air-to-surface, SA surface-to-air, SS surface-to-surface, AT anti-tank. The number is assigned by the US Department of Defense in order of identification, and the reporting name's first letter matches the family — A for air-to-air (Archer, Adder), K for air-to-surface (Kitchen, Krypton), G for surface-to-air (Guideline, Growler) and S for surface-to-surface and anti-tank missiles (Satan, Sagger).

Modifiers refine the picture: an N inserted into the prefix marks a naval system launched from a ship or submarine (SS-N-19), an X marks a system still in development (SS-X-30), and a CH- prefix marks the DoD series for Chinese systems, many of which carry no name at all. Older references write those same Chinese systems with a leading C instead — CSS-5 for the DF-21, CSSC-3 for the HY-2, CSS-N-3 for the JL-1 — and the two conventions are still used side by side; this guide uses the newer CH- form throughout.

The prefix code 6 families
PrefixLaunch → targetName initialExamples
AA Air-to-air A AA-11 Archer · AA-12 Adder
AS Air-to-surface K AS-4 Kitchen · AS-17 Krypton
SA Surface-to-air G SA-2 Guideline · SA-21 Growler
SS Surface-to-surface S SS-18 Satan · SS-26 Stone
AT Anti-tank S AT-3 Sagger · AT-14 Spriggan
-N- Naval launch — ship or submarine — SS-N-19 Shipwreck · SS-N-22 Sunburn
Reading a designation
DesignationReads as
SS-N-19 Shipwreck Surface-to-surface · N: naval launch, ship or submarine · 19th naval system identified · the S-name confirms the family → P-700 Granit
SS-X-30 X: seen in testing, not yet in service — dropped once the system is fielded → RS-28 Sarmat
SSC-8 Screwdriver SSC: surface-to-surface, coastal or ground-launched cruise missile → 9M729
ABM-1 Galosh ABM: anti-ballistic missile — an interceptor, named on the G/P letters → ABM-1 Galosh
CH-SS-20 CH: the DoD series for Chinese systems, 2017 onward · 20th surface-to-surface system; older references write CSS-20 → Dongfeng DF-41

Seven decades of designations, prefix by prefix

One lane per prefix family and one dot per missile, placed on the year it entered service. Surface-to-surface and surface-to-air weapons dominate throughout — the Soviet Union fielded a new ballistic or air-defence missile almost every year of the Cold War — while the air-to-air and anti-tank lanes are sparse and cluster around a few generational leaps.

Cold WarPost-SovietNew rivalry
AA Air-to-air
AA-2 Atoll AA-3 Anab AA-6 Acrid AA-8 Aphid AA-7 Apex AA-9 Amos AA-12 Adder CH-AA-7 Adze CH-AA-9 CH-AA-10 Abaddon CH-AA-12 Auger
AS Air-to-surface
AS-3 Kangaroo AS-5 Kelt AS-4 Kitchen AS-6 Kingfish AS-7 Kerry AS-10 Karen AS-14 Kedge AS-18 Kazoo AS-17 Krypton AS-20 Kayak CH-AS-5 Keystone AS-23 Kodiak AS-24 Killjoy AS-22 Kazoo
SA Surface-to-air
SA-2 Guideline SA-N-2 Guideline CH-SA-1 SA-5 Gammon ABM-1 Galosh SA-14 Gremlin SA-20 Gargoyle CH-SA-4 SA-15 Gauntlet SA-N-9 Gauntlet CH-SA-7 ABM-3 Gazelle CH-SA-21 CH-SA-9 SA-21 Growler CH-SA-16 CH-SA-15 SA-29 Gizmo CH-SA-20 SA-X-28
SS Surface-to-surface
SS-4 Sandal SS-6 Sapwood SS-11 Sego SS-9 Scarp CH-SS-3 SS-19 Stiletto SS-23 Spider CH-SS-4 SS-24 Scalpel SS-18 Satan CH-SSC-8 Saccade SS-27 Sickle-B CH-SS-10 CH-SS-10 Mod 3 SS-29 CH-SS-18 CH-SS-20
SS-N Naval launch
SS-N-1 Scrubber SS-N-2 Styx SS-N-3 Sepal SS-N-6 Serb SS-N-9 Siren SS-N-8 Sawfly SS-N-19 Shipwreck SS-N-20 Sturgeon SS-N-27 Sizzler SS-N-30 SS-N-26 Strobile SS-N-25 Switchblade CH-SS-N-13 CH-SS-N-14 CH-SS-N-20 SS-N-33
AT Anti-tank
AT-3 Sagger AT-2 Swatter AT-4 Spigot AT-5 Spandrel AT-6 Spiral AT-10 Stabber AT-11 Sniper AT-13 Saxhorn-2 AT-14 Spriggan AT-15 Springer
1960197019801990200020102020
Entered service — linked to its page Names without a page on file are listed below, not plotted

All names on file

Full database →
Jump to AA · Air-to-air 17AS · Air-to-surface 27SA · Surface-to-air 67SS · Surface-to-surface 72SS-N · Naval launch 39AT · Anti-tank 16
AA — Air-to-air 14 of 17 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
AA 1 Alkali Kaliningrad K-5 Not on file
AA 2 Atoll Vympel K-13 1960
AA 3 Anab Kaliningrad K-8 1965
AA 4 Awl Raduga K-9 Not on file
AA 5 Ash Bisnovat R-4 Not on file
AA 6 Acrid Bisnovat R-40 1970
AA 7 Apex Vympel R-23 1981
AA 8 Aphid Molniya R-60 1973
AA 9 Amos Vympel R-33 1981
AA 10 Alamo Vympel R-27 1983
AA 11 Archer Vympel R-73 1984
AA 12 Adder Vympel R-77 1994
AA 13 Axehead Vympel R-37 / R-37M 2019
CH-AA 7 Adze PL-12 2005
CH-AA 9 — PL-10 2015
CH-AA 10 Abaddon PL-15 2016
CH-AA 12 Auger PL-17 2022
AS — Air-to-surface 22 of 27 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
AS 1 Kennel KS-1 Kometa Not on file
AS 2 Kipper K-10S Yen Not on file
AS 3 Kangaroo Kh-20 1960
AS 4 Kitchen Kh-22 Burya 1968
AS 5 Kelt Kh-11 / KSR-2 1962
AS 6 Kingfish Kh-26 / KSR-5 1969
AS 7 Kerry Kh-66 / Kh-23 Grom 1974
AS 8 — 9M114V Shturm-V 1976
AS 9 Kyle Kh-28 1973
AS 10 Karen Kh-25 1975
AS 11 Kilter Kh-58 Izdeliye D-7 1982
AS 12 Kegler Kh-25MP / Kh-27PS 1975
AS 13 Kingbolt Kh-59 Ovod 1980
AS 14 Kedge Kh-29 1980
AS 15 Kent Kh-55 / Kh-65S Izdeliye 120 1983
AS 16 Kickback Kh-15 1980
AS 17 Krypton Kh-31 1988
AS 18 Kazoo Kh-59M Ovod-M 1980
AS 20 Kayak Kh-35 / Kh-37 Uran 2003
AS 22 Kazoo Kh-59MK2 / Kh-69 2024
AS 23 Kodiak Kh-101 / Kh-102 2012
AS 24 Killjoy Kh-47M2 Kinzhal 2017
AS-X 19 Koala 3M25A Meteorit-A —
AS-X 21 — Kh-90 GELA Not on file
CH-AS 1 Kraken YJ-61 / YJ-63 Not on file
CH-AS 5 Keystone CJ-10 2007
CH-AS-X 13 — Air-launched DF-21D derivative Not on file
SA — Surface-to-air 57 of 67 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
ABM 1 Galosh A-350 / 5V61 1972
ABM 3 Gazelle 53T6 / PRS-1 1995
ABM 4 Gorgon 51T6 / A-135 1995
CH-AB 2 — HQ-19 2021
CH-SA 1 — HQ-2 1967
CH-SA 3 — HN-5 Not on file
CH-SA 4 — HQ-7 1980
CH-SA 6 — HQ-6 Not on file
CH-SA 7 — QW-1 1994
CH-SA 8 — QW-2 Not on file
CH-SA 9 — HQ-9 2001
CH-SA 10 — FN-6 Not on file
CH-SA 11 — QW-18 Not on file
CH-SA 12 — HQ-12 Not on file
CH-SA 13 — TY-90 —
CH-SA 14 — FN-16 Not on file
CH-SA 15 — HQ-17 2013
CH-SA 16 — HQ-16 2008
CH-SA 20 — HQ-22 2019
CH-SA 21 — HQ-9B 2001
CH-SA-N 4 — HHQ-7 1980
CH-SA-N 9 — HHQ-9 2001
CH-SA-N 16 — HHQ-16 2008
CH-SA-N 17 — HHQ-10 Not on file
CH-SA-N 21 — HHQ-9B 2001
SA 1 Guild S-25 Berkut Not on file
SA 2 Guideline S-75 Dvina / Volkhov / Desna 1957
SA 3 Goa S-125 Nyeva 1961
SA 4 Ganef 2K11 Krug 1974
SA 5 Gammon S-200 Angara / Vega / Dubna 1967
SA 6 Gainful 2K12 Kub / Kvadrat 1967
SA 7 Grail 9K32 Strela-2 1970
SA 8 Gecko 9K33 Osa 1971
SA 9 Gaskin 9K31 Strela-1 1970
SA 10 Grumble S-300 P / PS / PT 1978
SA 11 Gadfly 9K37 Buk 1980
SA 12 Gladiator / Giant S-300V 1988
SA 13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10 1976
SA 14 Gremlin 9K36 Strela-3 1974
SA 15 Gauntlet 9K330 / 9K331 / 9K332 Tor 1986
SA 16 Gimlet 9K310 Igla-1 1983
SA 17 Grizzly 9K37 Buk-M1-2 1980
SA 18 Grouse 9K38 Igla 1983
SA 19 Grison 2K22 Tunguska 1982
SA 20 Gargoyle S-300PM / PMU Favorit 1978
SA 21 Growler S-400 Triumf 2007
SA 22 Greyhound Pantsir-S1 2012
SA 23 Gladiator/Giant S-300VM "Antey-2500" 1988
SA 24 Grinch 9K338 Igla-S 1983
SA 26 — Pechora-2M 1961
SA 27 Gollum Buk-M3 Not on file
SA 29 Gizmo 9K333 Verba 2015
SA-N 1 Goa 4К90 Volna [SA-3] 1961
SA-N 2 Guideline М-2 Volkhov-M [SA-2] 1957
SA-N 3 Goblet 4K60 / 4K65 Shtorm 1969
SA-N 4 Gecko 9M33 Osa-M [SA-8] 1971
SA-N 5 Grail 9K32 Strela-2 [SA-7] 1970
SA-N 6 Grumble S-300F Fort [SA-10] 1978
SA-N 7 Gadfly 9M38 / 9M38M Uragan [SA-11] 1980
SA-N 8 Gremlin 9K34 Strela-3 [SA-14] 1974
SA-N 9 Gauntlet 3K95 Kinzhal [SA-15] 1986
SA-N 10 Grouse 9K38 Igla-M / 9M39 [SA-18] 1983
SA-N 11 Grison 3M87 Kashtan [SA-19] 1982
SA-N 12 Grizzly 3K37 Smerch / Shtil [SA-17] 1980
SA-N 20 Gargoyle S-300FM [SA-20] 1978
SA-X 25 — 9M337 Sosna-R 2019
SA-X 28 — S-350 Vityaz 50R6 2019
SS — Surface-to-surface 50 of 72 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
CH-SS 3 — DF-4 1975
CH-SS 4 — DF-5 1981
CH-SS 4 Mod 2 DF-5A 1981
CH-SS 4 Mod 3 DF-5B 1981
CH-SS 5 — DF-21 1991
CH-SS 5 Mod 2 DF-21A 1991
CH-SS 5 Mod 5 DF-21D 1991
CH-SS 5 Mod 6 DF-21E 1991
CH-SS 6 — DF-15 1990
CH-SS 6 Mod 2 DF-15A 1990
CH-SS 6 Mod 3 DF-15B 1990
CH-SS 7 — DF-11 1992
CH-SS 7 Mod 2 DF-11A 1992
CH-SS 10 — DF-31 2006
CH-SS 10 Mod 2 DF-31A 2006
CH-SS 10 Mod 3 DF-31AG 2006
CH-SS 11 — DF-16 2011
CH-SS 18 — DF-26 2016
CH-SS 20 — DF-41 2017
CH-SS 22 — DF-17 2019
CH-SS 24 — DF-27 —
CH-SSC 1 Silkworm HY-1 Not on file
CH-SSC 2 Silkworm HY-1 Ground-launched Not on file
CH-SSC 3 Seersucker HY-2 Ground-launched 1970
CH-SSC 5 Saples YJ-16 Not on file
CH-SSC 6 Sawhorse HY-3 Not on file
CH-SSC 7 Sadsack HY-4 Not on file
CH-SSC 8 Saccade YJ-83 1998
CH-SSC 9 — CJ-10 2007
CH-SSC 13 Splinter CJ-100 2019
SS 1 Scud R-11 / R-300 1962
SS 1 Scunner R-1 Not on file
SS 2 Sibling R-2 Not on file
SS 3 Shyster R-5 / R-5M Not on file
SS 4 Sandal R-12 1959
SS 5 Skean R-14 Not on file
SS 6 Sapwood R-7 1960
SS 7 Saddler R-16 Not on file
SS 8 Sasin R-9 / R-9A Not on file
SS 9 Scarp R-36 1968
SS 10 Scrag GR-1 Not on file
SS 11 Sego UR-100 1967
SS 12 Scaleboard 9M76 1969
SS 13 Savage RT-2 Not on file
SS 14 Scapegoat & Scamp RT-15 Not on file
SS 15 Scrooge RT-20 Not on file
SS 16 Sinner 15Zh42 Not on file
SS 17 Spanker MR-UR-100 Not on file
SS 18 Satan R-36M 1988
SS 19 Stiletto UR-100N 1975
SS 20 Saber RT-21M / 15Zh45 1976
SS 21 Scarab 9M79 1976
SS 22 Scaleboard 9M76 Not on file
SS 23 Spider 9M714 1980
SS 24 Scalpel RT-23 1987
SS 25 Sickle RT-2PM 1985
SS 26 Stone 9K720 Iskander-M 2006
SS 27 Sickle-B RT-2UTTH Topol-M 2000
SS 28 Saber 2 15Zh53 1976
SS 29 — RS-24 Yars 2010
SS-NX 10 — — Not on file
SS-NX 11 — — Not on file
SS-NX 13 — R-27K 1968
SS-NX 28 — R-39M Grom Not on file
SS-X 30 — RS-28 Sarmat —
SS-X 31 — RS-26 —
SS-X 32 — BZhRK Barguzin Not on file
SSC 4 Slingshot RK-55 Granat / 3K12 Relief 1984
SSC 5 Stooge K-300P Bastion-P / P-800 Oniks 2002
SSC 6 Sennight 3K60 Bal / Kh-35 2003
SSC 8 Screwdriver 9M729 2017
SSC-X 9 Skyfall 9M730 Burevestnik —
SS-N — Naval launch 27 of 39 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
CH-SS-N 1 Scrubbrush SY-1 Not on file
CH-SS-N 2 Safflower HY-1 Ship-launched Not on file
CH-SS-N 3 — JL-1 1986
CH-SS-N 4 Sardine YJ-8 1987
CH-SS-N 5 Sabbot SY-2 Not on file
CH-SS-N 6 — C-802 1998
CH-SS-N 7 — YJ-82 Not on file
CH-SS-N 13 — YJ-18A 2015
CH-SS-N 14 — JL-2 2015
CH-SS-N 20 — JL-3 2022
SS-N 1 Scrubber 4K40 / P-1 1955
SS-N 2 Styx 4K51 / P-15 1960
SS-N 3 Sepal R-35 / 4K44 / 3M44 1963
SS-N 3 Shaddock 4K95 / P-5 1963
SS-N 4 Sark R-13 / 4K50 Not on file
SS-N 5 Sark R-21 Not on file
SS-N 6 Serb R-27 1968
SS-N 7 Starbright 4M66 / P-70 Ametist Not on file
SS-N 8 Sawfly R-29 1974
SS-N 9 Siren 4K85 / P-120 Malakhit 1972
SS-N 12 Sandbox 4K77 / 4K80 / P-500 Bazalt 1975
SS-N 14 Silex 83R / 84R / 85R 1969
SS-N 15 Starfish 82R Not on file
SS-N 16 Stallion 86R / 88R Not on file
SS-N 17 Snipe R-31 Not on file
SS-N 18 Stingray R-29R 1977
SS-N 19 Shipwreck 3M45 / P-700 Granit 1983
SS-N 20 Sturgeon R-39 Rif 1983
SS-N 21 Sampson S-10 Granat 1984
SS-N 22 Sunburn 3M80 / P-270 Moskit 1984
SS-N 23 Skiff R-29RM / R-29RMU2 Sineva / R-29RMU2.1 Layner 1986
SS-N 24 Scorpion 3M25 / Kh-80 / P-750 Meteorit Not on file
SS-N 25 Switchblade 3M24 / Kh-35 Uran 2003
SS-N 26 Strobile 3M55 / P-800 Oniks 'Yakhont' 2002
SS-N 27 Sizzler 3M54 Kalibr 1994
SS-N 29 — RPK-9 Medvedka / 89R Not on file
SS-N 30 — 3M14 Kalibr 1994
SS-N 32 — RSM-56 Bulava / 3M30 2019
SS-N 33 — 3M22 Zircon 2023
AT — Anti-tank 14 of 16 linked
PrefixNo.Name Model Since
AT 1 Snapper 3M6 Shmel Not on file
AT 2 Swatter 3M11 Falanga 1964
AT 3 Sagger 9M14 Malyutka 1963
AT 4 Spigot 9M111 Fagot 1970
AT 5 Spandrel 9M113 Konkurs 1974
AT 6 Spiral 9M114 Shturm 1976
AT 7 Saxhorn 9M115 Metis 1979
AT 8 Songster 9M112 Kobra 1976
AT 9 Spiral-2 9M120 Ataka 1985
AT 10 Stabber 9M117 Bastion 1981
AT 11 Sniper 9M119 Svir / Refleks 1985
AT 12 Swinger 9M118 Sheksna Not on file
AT 13 Saxhorn-2 9M131 Metis-M 1992
AT 14 Spriggan 9M133 Kornet 1998
AT 15 Springer 9M123 Khrizantema 2005
AT 16 Scallion 9K121 Vikhr 1985

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the N in SS-N-19 mean?

An N inserted into the prefix marks a naval system, launched from a ship or submarine — the SS-N-19 Shipwreck arms submarines and cruisers. Where a land-based equivalent exists, the name is kept and only the number changes.

Who assigns the designations — NATO or the Pentagon?

Both, in two layers. The alphanumeric designation (SS-18, SA-21) comes from the US Department of Defense, numbered in order of identification; the reporting name (Satan, Growler) comes from the Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council. The pairing is then used across NATO.

Why do surface-to-air missile names all start with G?

Each family owns a first letter: A for air-to-air, K for air-to-surface, G for surface-to-air, S for surface-to-surface and anti-tank. Hearing “Grumble” alone tells a NATO operator the threat is a SAM.

Is Satan the Russian name for the SS-18?

No — in Russian service the missile is the R-36M2, known as Voyevoda. Reporting names are Western labels only; Russia and China never use them, and “Satan” owes its notoriety entirely to Western reporting.

Related Pages
All equipment guides Aircraft reporting names Submarine reporting names Chinese missile designations decoded Missile database