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.
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.
| Prefix | Launch → target | Name initial | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
All names on file
Full database →Overview
The NATO missile designation system is a structured method for categorizing and naming missiles developed by countries outside the Alliance, particularly those originating from Russia or China. NATO employs a standardized combination of letters and numbers to codify these missile systems, facilitating consistent identification and communication among member states.
These designations are deliberately concise, phonetically distinct, and resistant to miscommunication over radio networks. Although not used by Russia or China, NATO forces have adopted this system to ensure clarity and interoperability in operational contexts.
1. Two-letter prefix: launch platform to target
| Prefix | Interpreted As | Typical Launch Platform → Target |
|---|---|---|
| AA- | Air-to-Air | Fighter / bomber → aircraft |
| AS- | Air-to-Surface | Aircraft → ground / ship / submarine target (*) |
| SA- | Surface-to-Air | TEL, truck, or naval launcher → aircraft / missile |
| SS- | Surface-to-Surface | Ground or coastal launcher → land or ship |
| SS-N- | Ship/Sub-to-Surface | Surface combatant or submarine → land / ship |
| AT- | Anti-Tank | Shoulder-fired or vehicle-mounted → armoured targets |
| AB- | Anti-Ballistic | Ground-based interceptor → ballistic missile in flight |
(*) Air-launched anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons are still classified under the AS category. The intended target (be it a bunker or a carrier) is clarified by context and the codename’s initial letter (see §3).
Relevant suffixes:
- -N = Naval launch variant (e.g., SS-N-27 “Sizzler”)
- -X = Experimental or under testing (e.g., SS-NX-13)
- Mod n / A-B-C = Indicates production blocks or significant upgrades (e.g., SA-10B “Grumble Mod 1”)
2. Serial number: sequential, not chronological
Each missile is assigned a number the first time Five Eyes analysts confirm it as a new design. A system developed in the 1980s but publicly revealed decades later may receive a seemingly high number (e.g., AS-25), reflecting its novelty to NATO, not its age.
3. One-word english codename: redundancy by design
Each codename begins with a letter that mirrors its prefix category:
| Class | Initial Letter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| AA & AT | A– | AA-12 Adder, AT-14 Spriggan |
| SA | G– | SA-21 Growler, SA-23 Gladiator |
| AS / SS-N | K– / S– | AS-4 Kitchen, SS-N-26 Switchblade |
| SS (land) | S– | SS-26 Stone, SS-29 Scarlet |
| AB | G– / P– | ABM-1 Galosh, ABM-4 Gorgon |
This approach ensures that even if the prefix is unclear or distorted in transmission, the codename still conveys the missile’s operational class.
Chinese Systems: emergence of the CH- prefix, and legacy CSS / CSS-N designations
Until the mid-2010s, NATO employed Soviet-style prefixes — CSS (China Surface-to-Surface) and CSS-N (Naval variants) — to catalog Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles. These legacy codes were used for decades, covering systems like the DF-3 (designated CSS-2 “Silkworm”), China’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile, and the sea-launched cruise missile CSS-N-13 “Scrubbrush”.
However, with the rapid expansion and diversification of the People’s Liberation Army’s missile arsenal, NATO introduced a revised convention beginning in 2017. The newer format uses the CH- prefix (e.g., CH-SS-20 for the DF-41 ICBM), explicitly linking systems to China and avoiding numbering conflicts with legacy Russian platforms.
Decoding a NATO missile designation
- Prefix: reveals the launch-to-target profile.
- Codename’s First Letter: reinforces the classification if the prefix is unclear.
- High Serial Number?: indicates novelty to NATO intelligence, not necessarily technological modernity.
- -N / -X Suffixes: highlight naval launch platforms or experimental status.
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.