NATO Reporting Names for Missiles

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

(*) 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:

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

1. Prefix: reveals the launch-to-target profile.
2. Codename’s First Letter: reinforces the classification if the prefix is unclear.
3. High Serial Number?: indicates novelty to NATO intelligence, not necessarily technological modernity.
4. -N / -X Suffixes: highlight naval launch platforms or experimental status.