How do Russian Aircraft & Missiles Get Their Names? | Koala Explains: NATO Reporting Names

If you've spent any time at all looking into the military space, you'll most likely have heard the Su-27 fighter referred to as a 'Flanker', or seen the Mi-24 helicopter go by the name 'Hind', but these names are not given by the Russians themselves. Instead these are NATO reporting names. What are NATO reporting names? Well.........
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0:00 Intro
1:57 What are NATO Reporting Names?
6:20 Aircraft Reporting Names
14:22 Equipment Reporting Names
23:34 Recap
24:22 Outro
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[@ArmorCast]

As of today, the 9K333 Verba SAM system has officially been given the reporting name "SA-29 Gizmo"

[@winstonedwards2014]

They really pulled out the contraption this time, didnt they.

[@khoipham8303]

You just can’t deny that Havoc is the coolest name for an attack helicopter, like ever.

[@CharChar2121]

One is the Hokum and one is the Havoc and I can't remember which

[@Pre-flightChekist]

​@@CharChar2121Hokum is for Kamov's Ka-50 and -52, Havoc is Mil Mi-28

[@cade8986]

Lynx is pretty sick

[@craftpaint1644]

"Frog Foot" sounds like a nimble stomper.

[@realrichardyoutube]

A-20 Ww2 Attack fighter

[@aaronho1914]

I never realized that there was an actual reason behind the name chosen by NATO for the USSR's planes. I had always laughed at the funny names but this was quite informative!

[@Bandog23]

F4got jet and missile system

[@Tomteeejay]

NATO as an organisation has nothing to do with issuing the names. NATO is simply on the distribution list. It was the 5 Eyes intelligence community of UK/US/Canada/Australia and New Zealand that designates then Soviet and later Russian/Chinese systems.

[@blackstone777]

"I've got two Faggots on my tail!" 😂

[@TheOfficialStardewCat]

​@@Bandog23and An 22

[@catfish552]

Another reason not to rely on the original designations, aside from them not conveying as much information, would be that you might not even know it - especially back in Cold War times. E.g. a new aircraft or variant shows up in photos or does flybys at a Soviet parade or something: You can tell it's a Tu-22 variant, but you have no clue what the Soviets are calling it, and you don't know yet what it can do. Well, let's call it a Blinder-B for now so we know what aircraft we're talking about, and fill in the rest later. That probably also accounts for a couple cases where the NATO names are very similar and the original designations very different, and vice versa.

[@ArmorCast]

Very good point, one I should have made in the video. It’s also likely responsible for the Su-24 being named as if it were a fighter, because initially with very little to go on, NATO assumed it was, and just never changed it after the fact. Thanks for bringing that up 👍

[@yfelwulf]

Totally incorrect Russia until recently never allocated names they considered it Childish. Because idiots in NATO grant them Russia gives the Equipment a Number that NATO automatically changes for no reason Russia does not suddenly rename the F16 the Z12 Wiggler it confuses the west more than Russia.

[@ArmorCast]

@@yfelwulfNot true - the USSR and later Russia allocated names to various aircraft over the years, such as the Su-25 Grach, M-4 Molot, A-40 Albatros, An-22 Antei, Ka-50 Black Shark, Ka-52 Alligator, etcetera. These are all officially designated names. Then there are also the unofficial names - Krokodil for the Mi-24, Balalaika for the MiG-21 etc.

[@worldoftancraft]

​@@ArmorCastgrač, aljbatros, čôrnaâ akula - not "blæk shark", balalajka.

[@Android_ELITE]

I give you permission to say the MiG-15's reporting name next time

[@ArmorCast]

Unfortunately I doubt the algorithm would! 😂

[@Android_ELITE]

@@ArmorCast understandable, have a wonderful day

[@Its-Just-Zip]

​@@ArmorCastI'm on speaking terms with the algorithm and I'm fairly certain it would, but just not the first parts of the video. Then again speaking terms of the algorithm may not be good enough to get a proper ruling on this

[@zacharydurocher4085]

What is it ?

[@user-ns5fv9wu9g]

​@@zacharydurocher4085faxot

[@azimuth9627]

Yep, there is some unofficial nicknames for some of the military vehicles. For example Mi-24 in Russia has a nickname “crocodile”. Ka-52 is “alligator”. Tu-160 has unofficial nickname “white swan”. Great video btw 👍

[@d3viLang3LFall3n]

As a diehard Kojima fanboy, the NATO reporting name of "Hind" for the Mi-24 Helicopters will always be top dog in my mind.

[@richardcaves3601]

When I first heard that name, I thought it was pretty inappropriate, I mean, Hind is a female deer.

[@DjDolHaus86]

It's a little bit bigger than a Hip

[@worldoftancraft]

​@@richardcaves3601 krokodíl eto nê "lanj", varvary.

[@Professional_Lolicon]

I pray to the high heavens that the SU 75 be named the Femboy

[@aidanpysher2764]

I came here to say this as well.

[@khoipham8303]

Yes I agree to this

[@destruct0503]

It is quite possible

[@jpaulc441]

Or if it turns out to be full of serious problems - "Fuckup"

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

No, I disagree

[@glassfullofmilk]

Having the AI in the back of the F14 in DCS call out the Mig15 hits something different in a Merge.

[@MegaTron7568]

hits different

[@destruct0503]

Ah milnerds, never change

[@user-pe8yi9uh7d]

Jester is your bro Gotta use his voicelines using soundpad when rioing, just for the fun of it

[@Doomsday499]

Jester: "That's a, fagot! *laughs hysterically*"

[@quan-uo5ws]

What kind of museum squadron are you fighting lol

[@rogerhinman5427]

"Shipwreck" is an epic name for an anti-ship missile.

[@Phantom-bh5ru]

lol China got a anti ship missile called “eagle strike” as in to strike the eagle. Any guesses who the eagle is? Lol

[@bluemountain4181]

Looking forward to the Su-75 'Femboy' designation becoming official!

[@ArmorCast]

We can only hope

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

They won't do it

[@ODST_Parker]

I feel like the naming method is pretty easy to underatand. F for fighter, B for bomber, etc. Especially for us, since the US uses the same letters. I put two and two together when I was a kid playing old Novalogic flight sims. Didn't know about the M designations though. Learned helicopter reporting names like Hind, Havoc, and Hokum from Comanche 4 back in the day. Also SAM designations like Gainful, Gecko, and Grisom. Best part about this is the names themselves though. From Fishbed to Mittens, from Fulcrum to Havoc, I love how they can either be a badass name which has become the most well known, or a joke with a funny story behind it.

[@PrintScreen.]

I used to play NovaLogic's F-16 game as a kid, i found it on a CD with a bunch of other games at home, such a shame the company went bankrupt and got absorbed by THQ Nordic

[@ODST_Parker]

@@PrintScreen. Got all their games on Steam now, plus my old CDs, so at least there's that. There's a new "Delta Force" game coming out now, but it looks absolutely nothing like the old ones. It's just another generic modern shooter. Such a shame.

[@thecraigster8888]

M stands for miscellaneous. Usually given to unique utility aircraft or trainer versions of mostly fighters.

[@TheOfficialStardewCat]

​@thecraigster8888 nope it stands for multi-role

[@mistere8055]

The naming scheme for Radars is often based on the appearance (would make satellite identification easier). Square Pair is literally two square-shaped antennas. Tombstone is shaped like a tombstone. Many like Big Bird don't seem to follow this, but they could also be named after other characteristics (like in ESM intercepts, the waveforms etc).

[@ArmorCast]

Some are pretty obvious where they came from (though for the longest time I thought it was Square Pear… like the fruit, and somehow that still made perfect sense to me! 😂) But ‘Scrum Half’? ‘Low Blow’? ‘Straight Flush’? The majority of them are pretty random, while only a few can really be said to LOOK LIKE the name given to them, much the same as with the aircraft and helicopters (‘Horse’, ‘Fullback’, ‘Maxdome’, etc.)

[@casualguy634]

​​@@ArmorCast I think I know why the Kub's 1S91 "Straight Flush" was named as such, when the radar is retracted for transportation, the large circular base below the search radar lowers down seamlessly into the chassis, in other words, it *_flushes down,_* so I suppose that's why it's named the Straight Flush

[@filanfyretracker]

Big Bird is probably because that arm that holds whatever you call the RF collector thing on a radar or satellite dish, the long arm looks kinda like a big beak.

[@Thunderbox247]

also when is NATO going to give the SU-75 it's name: The Femboi!

[@noahvcat9855]

In the Halo Universe a lot of the names for covenant vehicles and ships were given by the UNSC as like with NATO not knowing or learning the russian designations so did the UNSC

[@ArmorCast]

Are Banshee and Wraith not Covenant-given names? If so that’s awesome!

[@skyrimn00b98]

​@ArmorCast the covies use a type designation similar to japan.

[@scott-gaming.8834]

@@ArmorCast They use pattern names, like this, while humans designate it with Type, like the Type-25 Plasma pistol and rifle, while the covenant calls it the Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle, the numeral designation depends on the year it was first encountered by humanity, for example, the T-25 was encountered in 2525.

[@noahvcat9855]

@@ArmorCast As far as I know with my casual levels of knowledge in Halo lore, basically all of the names of those covenant vehicles are more or less human designations

[@lukeskywalket2894]

While I do like how cool the name ‘Felon’ sounds, I really wish the Su-57 was called the ‘Flapjack’

[@nathanthanatos3743]

On some corners of the internet, it's called the 'femboy'. Desperate for attention online, exceedingly rare IRL.

[@ChevroNine]

Su-57 Flappybird

[@armablign]

Alot of people ive seen, want the Su-57 to be called 'Femboy'

[@richardcaves3601]

Possibly Flopjack

[@Techno_Idioto]

SU-57 'Femboy' I prefer SU-57 'Fodder' or SU-57 'Fraud'.

[@dlkjAENFadlkfj]

I really enjoyed your Air Combat Terminology video, and I am honestly glad to see some sort of follow up with the NATO names for enemy aircraft! Loads of information, but to what a simpleton civvie like myself can tell, its easy to understand and get through!

[@ArmorCast]

Haha thanks lad, glad you enjoyed! 👍😄

[@Sreven199]

It's odd to me that the US has dedicated codes for Attacker Aircraft (A-10 Warthog, A-6 Intruder, F/A-18 Hornet), but decided not to give Russian/Chinese attackers names that start with A. I wonder why that is... *Edit* And you beat me to it.13:00. Made my comment too early it seems lol

[@filipstraka8964]

Also names starting with A are used for missiles (Alamo, Archer, etc.)

[@Russinh0]

Actually russian Attack aircrafts and american ones are built with different purposes, only the Su-25 are Purelly Ground Attacker, but other Attackers are Hybrid with Fighters like the Su-17 and its export version the Su-22, that are Fighters and Attackers that called Fitter, american attackers are used as Purelly attackers or missile plataform but unable to Fight like a fighter, some of them can but not built for that

[@misham1213]

@@Russinh0 It's an even bigger mess than you think, you got the Frogfoot (Su-25), a slow ground attacker, the Fitter (Su-17/20/22), a fast fighter-bomber intended for close and deep air support and nuclear weapon delivery, and the Fencer (Su-24), which is a tactical bomber akin to F-111 and Tornado IDS, all sharing the F designations.

[@ArmorCast]

​@@Russinh0 With Fitter I assume it's also because the initial variant, the Su-7A, was built as a fighter and interceptor, and it only evolved into the ground attack role with the Su-7B and later Su-17, because of Su-7A's poor performance. Though why NATO did not take this opportunity to separate out dedicated strike fighter/attacker aircraft with their own designation scheme, I don't know. Seems a missed opportunity. There's also the Il-10 and Il-40P which were designated as BOMBERS ("Beast" and "Brawny") despite being attack aircraft, and actually being equipped with offensive cannons like a fighter... while as Misham just mentioned there's also the Su-24 which is denoted like a FIGHTER rather than a bomber when it's effectively a tactical bomber, comparable to the F-111. The inconsistency is infuriating! 😂

[@Tigershark_3082]

This series is genuinely extremely helpful Can't wait to see any other videos you have planned for this series

[@RazorsharpLT]

Even the Russians aviators use these names sometimes lmao Because they just "sound cool".

[@VikingTeddy]

I've missed Koala explains :). I hope to see more at some point. Military jargon and culture can sometimes be so esoteric, even for a milhis buff.

[@weekendjail1417]

Femboi would be the ultimate reporting name for whatever Russian/Chinorz fighter.

[@solowingborders3239]

Su-75

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

Why

[@Phantom-bh5ru]

Some cool names I hope get used Fighters: “Frenzy” “Fallout” “Firebrand” “Fable” “Fractal” “Fault line” “Fox fire” “Fervent” “Fissure” “Fracture” “Fafnir” Bombers: “Brimstone” “Basilisk” “Bedrock” “Bastion” “Balaur” “Banshee” Helicopter: “Hellhound” “Haven” “Harp” “Hive” “Hammer” “Harpy” “Harbinger” “Hades” “Hyrax” “Hydra”

[@elchjol2777]

Pair of Fractures Bull 10, Bearing 170 Hot, Angels 20 Probably put those in the wrong order

[@mikedrop4421]

Funny how the F/A18 Growler is the NATO name for the anti-electronic/SEAD plane designed to hunt SAMS like the S400 "Growler". I never put two and two together before watching this video. This was super informative. While the F names for fighters and B names for bombers and such is pretty obvious the other facts like single syllable names for props and two syllables for jets is something I'd never have picked up myself. Well done good sir.

[@ArmorCast]

Cheers lad! Glad you enjoyed. That point about props’ vs jets’ names is actually the point that convinced me to make the video in the first place, though it was also a good chance to go into missile/radar names and some other background info too

[@thereal757_ap]

Hands down the best dive into this topic I've found. Thank you.

[@AntPictures]

That completely transformed my understanding of these things! Amazing video thank you!

[@operaatio5117]

Russia: *Names a submarine class to "I love nato

[@PrograError]

*some day* [ Russian government decided to give a love hug ]

[@MrHarbot]

After playing flight sims for over 30 years, I feel stupid that I have never recognized that F names are for fighters, B for bombers, and H for Helicopters. :D

[@fonesrphunny7242]

Same here. I randomly noticed the naming convention a couple of years ago.

[@OtterMusician]

I missed the last two videos, I didn’t realize you were back! I’m glad to see you in my feed again, I missed your content.

[@cheesyfromindonesia9969]

I got an opportunity to go to my local armed forces museum in my country, man they got the Su-7 'Fitter' and the Mi-4 'Hound' it was pretty cool but back then I didnt know the NATO reporting names for these 2 aircrafts but now I can identify them much easier, so thanks for the video

[@Wolfpack345]

Awesome video!

[@billotto602]

Love your videos ! Thanks !

[@cascadianrangers728]

What I love about soviet systems is their value of preformance over safety. You ask a peice of Soviet kit to do something, it will do it, even if it will fail catastrophically and maim you in the process. You push the throttle all the way forward, there's no sissy interlock to keep the jets engines from exploding, just POWER!

[@PrograError]

well... they don't have much of a silicon industry... western plane are too overtly reliant on silicon...

[@cascadianrangers728]

@@PrograError nyet silicone, Comrade. Workers have no need soft, decadent western silicone, not when the Glorious Soviet Union has given you bakelite to use instead! It will be here in 16 weeks

[@matthewlesich2840]

My favourite is the Backfire for the Tu-22M. It's a name that conveys info about its supersonic capabilities

[@DaveNarn]

Pilots refer to the SU 27 as ‘Flanker with a Wanker’ The Fansong RADAR got it’s name by how it operates when detected. It sweeps side to side like a fan and chirps like bird on each cycle.

[@LegacyUser]

Great video. SS-N-19 Shipwreck just sounds awesome.

[@junior77254]

Heeey u re back!!

[@MutheiM_Marz]

There also an A prefix for Attack Aircraft or CAS like A-1 Skyraider, A-10, AC-130 which is a cargo in CAS role or F/A 18 which do both a fighter and ground pounder, AH-64 which have a helicopter and ground attack prefix. But SU-25 is an ground attack aircraft yet it have a name in F instead of A.

[@Contentrist]

Last I checked FENCER does not carry AA missiles. At least not to my knowledge but it does have a gun. What I've heard is a NATO officer thought it was a fighter when it was first unveiled during a flyover at the red square. And later they just didn't bother or see the need to correct it.

[@ArmorCast]

Fencer does carry R-60s and R-73s for self defence, up to four of them

[@Contentrist]

@@ArmorCast I stand corrected. Went through some old learning resources and saw the reason I thought they didn't carry AA missiles but can't reference those documents because that might get classified under the same category as "War Thunder forum leaks" by local officials.

[@Tomteeejay]

F covers Fighter and Fighter bomber/ground attack aircraft. That is why the likes of Su-25 Frogfoot, Su-24 Fencer, Su-34 Fullback, etc. Also NATO as an organisation doesn't issue the codenames for any Russian/Chinese aircraft. NATO is simply on the distribution list. The AFIC (Air ForceInteroperability Council). It has gone through a number of names over the years issue the reporting names for Russian/Chinese aircraft. This is made up of 5 Eyes intelligence community UK/US/CANADA/NEW ZEALAND. Note that neither Australia or New Zealand are NATO members. NATO is simply on the distribution list as the majority of 5 Eyes are NATO members. Other 5 Eyes working groups allocated and issue the reporting names for Russian/Chinese missiles, radars, etc. NATO doesn't designate anything.

[@Riceball01]

Just as an FYI, the NATO reporting name for the MiG-15 (Fagot) isn't a bad word. Fagot simply means a piece of firewood, which is where the British slang for cigarette comes from. That bad word you're thinking of has 2 Gs, although I'm not sure that KZbin's algorithm, or idiot humans, would know the difference,

[@ArmorCast]

Problem is you can’t HEAR the difference

[@PrograError]

@@ArmorCast maybe you could have pronounced it as "fucked-got" ?? sound far enough??

[@pyronuke4768]

My favorite is Foxglove, a type of poisonous flower, that was being considered for the MiG 1.42 (not to be confused with the very similar MiG 1.44 Flatpack technology demonstrator).

[@akriegguardsman]

Chinese ones are quite easy Jian (J-) fighter Qian (Q-) attacker Hong (H-) bomber JiangHong (JH) fighter bomber Yun (Y-) Transport Zhi (Z-) helicopter WuZhi (WZ-) attack helicopter KongJing (KJ) airborne early warning system Chinese designation is actually the first letter in Pinyin of the aircrafts type

[@akriegguardsman]

Will add more of I remember more

[@akriegguardsman]

Ah Jiang Jiao/Jian Lian(?) (JJ/JL) Trainers

[@akriegguardsman]

For missles Hong Jian (red arrow)(HJ-) atgm Hong Qi ( red flag)( HQ-) AA missle Idk about the others

[@ArmorCast]

​@@akriegguardsman HQ would be for surface-to-air missiles, no? HQ-17 and HQ-64 spring to mind. However then there's the LY-60 and FK-1000 just to make things difficult. Then there's FN for MANPADS (FN-6). PL is typically the designation for air-to-air, but there's also TY for that too... There's also YJ which is for precision-guided air to surface ordnance I believe, but only from fixed-wing aircraft There are a few other exceptions too - the MA-60 transport aircraft, the Z-10 (rather than WZ-10) attack helicopter, and with drones things just get really messy (some have unique designations like CH or GJ, while others get WZ as if they're attack helicopters)

[@bycoxtax8562]

I love how we tried to give them derogatory names but ended up as badass, don't tell me that fulcrum, fullback, frogger, fencer, flanker or frogfoot aren't cool af. Meanwhile in nato we have mid names like hornet (fucking insect), fighting falcon (viper is way better imo), grippen (im convinced it means grippy in a nordic language), Eurofighter (where could it be from?), harrier (are you carrying a harry inside?), eagle and Hercules are the redeeming ones. We have 2005 xbox live names lmao

[@lonemarkkingoftypos3722]

Well, the Japanese F-2A atleast retained the original Viper name, it probly a license built F-16 (with key dofferences) by Mitsubishi, also gave it the name Zero (in remembrance of the Type 0/A6M fighter), so it was well known as Viper Zero?

[@Regolith86]

A harrier is a type of hawk. Also, I can tell you've never pissed off a nest of hornets...

[@rbgerald2469]

Gripen is Swedish for Griffin. It is the animal on the coat of arms of Östergötland, the province where Saab AB is headquartered (Linköping, Sweden) Other Europeans go for the Storm theme however. Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafalé, and the BAE Tempest come to mind. (Rafalé means "Squall" or gust of wind in French)

[@jeramysteve3394]

Ignores f 22 raptor, f35 lightning 2, xb 70 valkirye, and my personal favorite the B 58 hustler

[@bycoxtax8562]

@@jeramysteve3394 as i said, all xbox live names, my favorite is aardvark because it sounds cool and not a like a kid trying to think of a cool name, raptor and lightning II are mid, the coolest ones imo are hercules, orion, aardvark, black bird, eagle and buff, everything else sounds corny

[@WithTwoFlakes]

Whilst I already knew much of the info in this video, I had never before picked up on the "one syllable for props", "two syllables for jets". So as they say on South Park - "I learned something today..." 🙂

[@adisura9904]

AC you should do videos on different air forces. Their history, operations and current and past assets/platforms. Always a fun video, cheers from India

[@ArmorCast]

That's an interesting idea, but I imagine it'd be pretty difficult to put together! I'll see what I can do

[@adisura9904]

@@ArmorCast haha yeah, you can always split it into parts to make it easier or start with smaller video with multiple nations and then eventually moving into longer videos about more prominent air forces, say top10 of them

[@josephrosenbaum3343]

The interesting but confusing case with the S-300 series is the systems themselves have nato designations but NOT the individual interceptors. Which can vary wildly in capabilities depending on the variant like 5V55K and 5V55R being a Command guided and Semi Active (or TVM depending on the source) missile respectively But then it gets even more confusing with the S-300V series which is a more ABM focused S-300 variation. That has 2 different SA-12 Designations for the SA-12A (for the 9M83 air defense interceptor) and the SA-12B (for the 9M82 Ballistic Missile interceptor). The S-300V can dual hat both of these interceptors in a single battery with the normal air search and high altitude air search radars while the tracking and illumination radar's being self contained on each launcher vehicle (TELAR). Needless to say i fucking hate NATO's confusing and needlessly long missile designations and i will always use GRAU index.

[@Armageddon_71]

Man, the Mig15 cant catch a break. Neither fighter or trainer XD

[@deafenziv3596]

Can you do a follow up video on NATO names for missiles and radars and their naming conventions?

[@brokenursa9986]

For a sci-fi world I created, most modern aerospace companies still exist, but the designation system used by the unified world government has been made into a combination US and Russian systems, with both a letter designating role and a second designating manufacturing company/bureau. Mikoyan produces a fighter called the FG-07 (F for fighter, G for Mikoyan (M belongs to Mitsubishi)). Common names aren’t required, but I have Mikoyan decide to give one anyway, but following the old NATO system just because they can, so they dub their FG-07 the Falchion.

[@ArmorCast]

Very cool! Always good to see sci-fi worlds stray AWAY from that standard cliche of "just do what the US does now but futuristic n shit". What about tanks, how are they designated?

[@brokenursa9986]

@@ArmorCast Still working on that, but working concept is to just have a 2 or 3-letter designation for role, like MBT for main battle tank or IFV for infantry fighting vehicle. It’s incredibly basic and generic, and I have the fullest intention of changing it to something better.

[@ArmorCast]

@@brokenursa9986 You wouldn't happen to watch the channel Templin Institute would you? If not, they've got some great videos that might help with a bit of inspiration... if not then they're just damn good fun to watch! 👍😄

[@brokenursa9986]

@@ArmorCast I do. They’ve been a great help with nomenclatures for my vehicles. I’ve just been focusing more attention on the space side of things than on the planetside stuff.

[@annasolovyeva1013]

​@@brokenursa9986 for Russians - Russians often would use humour when giving weapons names, the more awkward it sounds, the better. Also, artillery is flowers. Maybe your tanks is something else?

[@grejsancoprative]

Speaking of funny names for aircraft; a undermentioned but important aircraft, the Saab 29, which were dubbed "the flying barrel".

[@pepebeezon772]

Can't wait for Su-75 Femboy

[@SuiLagadema]

The soviets (and later russian) planes didn't have official designations, but they did have nicknames within the military. A common example would be the MI-24 "Krokodil" or "Galina". Just a little piece of extra knowledge to the video. Other examples of nicknames would be the F-16 "Fighting Falcon" but every pilot just calls it "Viper".

[@ArmorCast]

There was also Balalaika for the MiG-21, named for the musical instrument which had a similar shape

[@dmitry_7889]

If I recall correctly, back in the soviet days the Tu-22 received a bunch of quite unflattering names from both pilots and ground crews alike, due to it being accident-prone which in turn led to quite a few casualties. One of those names being "Maneater".

[@Pathenic]

Also some of our planes are nicknamed after designations given by NATO. I mean, we really liked the "fencer" nickname for su-24, "bear" for tu-95 and "backfire" for tu-22m3. They just sound cool, ngl.

[@Pathenic]

​@@ArmorCastand su-34 is called "duckling", ka-27 - "bee", mi-28 "Mickey mouse. Funnily enough the mi-8 modification for radio electrical warfare is called "Axe" because of the abbreviation sounding like this word

[@Attaxalotl]

@@dmitry_7889 Errorplane

[@lyn-jhonosia8981]

Been a while since I watched Koalas vids

[@AirForceBuilder]

I really liked liked your video, but as a US Air Force vet I wanted to add a couple things here; first, as weird...and petty as it is, as per AFI 16-401/AR 70-50/NAVAIRINST 1300.16 the C in US aircraft designations actually stands for Transport, not Cargo. I know...dumb. But there are USAF tests where you have to get that right! We don't use NATO reporting names on the radio in any tactical scenario. We assign a theater code word, that sometimes can change with the weekly COMM plan to represent each aircraft in the EOB. NATO reporting names are used in training & education, Intelligence neighborhoods, and briefings. Even in training sorties we use brevity codes picked by the Flight Lead for each Red Air platform. The same with air defense systems. The only difference is with defensive COMM, we will reference the NATO numeric designation only "Defending 11", or "Threat west 10, 6". Otherwise though everything is referenced by the daily or weekly code word IAW the COMM plan. NATO reporting names are more administrative than tactical. And the AA-12 is NOT at ALL an equivalent to the AIM-120. I laughed at that. The Amramski wishes it could perform like an AMRAAM...

[@Omegasupreme1078]

Frogfoot B got an F-name because as far as NATO knew at the time, it was a more fully combat-capable aircraft than some of the other training aircraft that got M names.

[@aldorea4616]

The Russians sometimes name their systems, for instance their Rocket artillery troops are all named after storms For instance the TOS 1 flamethrower (thermobaric) being called the Tornado The BM 27 ‘Uragan’ or Hurricane The BM-30 ‘Smerch’ which means Whirlwind. Don’t think it’s a hard and fast rule but definitely seems to be their convention

[@PrograError]

i think those are all Russian designated not soviet original

[@fleshtearer9454]

TOS-1 have unofficial name as Buratino(pinocchio) TOS-1A - Solntsepyok TOS-2 - Tosochka Also if we talks about artillery: BM-21 - Grad(hailstorm) 2S3 - Akatsiya(acacia) 2S7 - Pion 2S4 - Tyulpan(tulip) T-90M - Vladimir Su-34 - Utyonok(duckling)

[@shaider1982]

I think the MiG21 trainer might be named for the Mongol brand of pencil. That fighter’s fuselage does look like a pencil.

[@diminios]

Blinder - begins with B, so bomber. More than one syllable, so it's a jet bomber.

[@user-lh5pf4ji3q]

I think it worth mentioning that theres a way to tell the role of soviet/russian aircraft based on their name Fighters and interceptors usually are designated with odd numbers (except Su-30, probably because it was based on trainer) Ground attack and cargo aircraft with even numbers (except those made by sukhoi)

[@ArmorCast]

Tu-28 and Yak-28P (interceptors) also break this rule, as does the MiG-27 (ground attacker). It’s a CONVENTION, but it’s not consistent or reliable enough to count on (kinda like the convention of US helicopters being named for Native American/Indian tribes… it applies often but not always).

[@REPOMAN24722]

141 Freestyle is one of the coolest names I reckon, makes sense since its a VTOL

[@rabidmidgeecosse1336]

has to be Backfire, I grew up as a kid with that behemoth dominating naval scare sorties, and looks sooo damn good

[@panpantheman78]

enjoyable

[@gopniksaurolophus6354]

8:31, Tu-22, early model with the engines mounted directly astride the vertical stabilizer. The later Tu-22M, of carrier-killing Red Storm Rising fame, is the Backfire.

[@Jollyroger84103]

I'm just waiting for Femboy/Femboi to be the official reporting name of the Su-75

[@ArmorCast]

I don't know if NAFO is quite that powerful... ... yet

[@ualu704]

Suckhoi should have a fighter called the "Fig". It's naval version would be the "Fig Newton".

[@1czssk]

I wonder, how often English speakers says bureau's name before a model's name. We rarely sya it. For example, we don't say Mil' Mi-8, we say just Mi-8. More over, in aviation we not always say short name of bureau, e.g. "154 has just landed". When I worked with Mi-8 helicopters we often say only the name of modification: T, MT, MTV-5, AMTSh. But we often call An-124 as Ruslan, An-225 as Mriya. We also often say the names of american aircrafts: Osprey, Chinook, Phantom, Raptor, Apache, but not always.

[@Vo1kfang]

I'm going to refrain from naming those unnamed systems so I don't get banned from KZbin 😂

[@nathanbell6712]

Su-75 Fairy has a nice ring to it

[@destroyerarmor2846]

Honestly, the Hind is the most badass looking helicopter in aesthetics 🙌

[@ArmorCast]

Idk man, you should see the Helix! 😂

[@mr.abrams8112]

F16C rn is a monster in war thunder. It feels so fucking nice.

[@ArmorCast]

Haven’t bothered grinding it yet, but I am keen on trying out the AIM-9M

[@mr.abrams8112]

@@ArmorCast Its nice, especially in ground rb, but in air it isnt something to rely on. Though it really needs a new sparrow. Like MH or P.

[@ArmorCast]

@@mr.abrams8112F-16C-50 never carried sparrows at all, in fact it never could. It’ll likely get AIM-120As or Bs to replace the Sparrows completely when the Su-27 arrives

[@mr.abrams8112]

@@ArmorCast Ik it never carried sparrows, but a lot of stuff didn't use what it does or doesn't exist. Aim120 a would be fine rn. The B, not so much but would require R77, cause Su 27 with 6 ER's and 4 R73's isnt gonna be busted.

[@lovegod1steverythingelse2n47]

3:25 Those trucks man😂

[@HW.0029]

Flanker, Havoc, Blackjack are absolute chad names. Shipwreck and Satan are very befitting as well.

[@minecrafter991]

Can't belive you didn't mention the Su-75 "Femboy" smh my head

[@basedsketch4133]

I live by a massive c5 base but its scaled down the past 3 years and the new engines are so quieter and living 2 miles from westover air reserve base is no longer sonic terror

[@trololo_zhirnota]

U are ALIVE! YEAH! Also i think Femboy(a proposed by Lazerpig) is much better name than Fellon.

[@ArmorCast]

Haha! Check the channel mate, you must've missed the last two vids!

[@trololo_zhirnota]

@@ArmorCast i have indeed. damn youtube!

[@egmccann]

The MiG-15's name has only one G - referring to a small bundle of sticks, basically fuel or a fire starter. Though, yes, it'd be had to tell with just the pronunciation.

[@lazarhorvath5614]

Will there ever be a video of the Kf 41 Lynx?

[@wingsflyjet]

I saw the J-20 being named Fire Fang

[@fXBorgmeister]

Or F-117 where you're trolling fighter jocks into being bombers on the sly.

[@pyeitme508]

Interesting 🤔

[@Boxmediaphile]

I like hell duck plus it’s kinda cute the Su34

[@nunyabeeswax9463]

I spent several years in the US Navy 80-87 . I ended up as an EW2 , Electronic Warfare Tech 2nd class. Our motto??? "We do it until our Giga-Hertz" I know it's lame but I was 20. I learned so much about what I did 40 some years ago in 20 some minutes. Thank you. I had 6 Badger C lock on all their Puff Ball radars 200 miles above the Artic Circle in March of 84. 25 years later I learned about our mission. My LPH with a squadron of Harrier AV-8B , a couple destroyers and an LPD escorted a Los Angeles Class sub to spy on Severomorsk Navy Base. I wished the Crypto douchebags would of warned me what was heading my way. A dozen As-2's locked on to one's ship is an interesting way to spend the 04 to 08 watch. The following day I finally got my Top Secret Clearance.

[@ArmorCast]

Always a pleasure to have veterans of all different MOS in our comments. Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed

[@cockatoo010]

the sukhoi design bureau may have given the Su-25 the "Grach" nickname, but the airmen called it "raseshka" means hairbrush

[@jonesy279]

MITTENS! I never knew that one but its so damn cute 😂

[@killmetounlockdlc]

Please make Magach series!

[@Someaceguy1937]

It’s fine, Fagot only has one G, and is literally “Bassoon” in Russian

[@solowingborders3239]

J-20 Firedrake? Fits well with J-10 Firebird, and sounds more flattering than "vigorous Dragon" or "mighty dragon", with their Chinese names they sound like products for bedroom activities. Edit: a few more H-20 Blitzwing (yeah I know it's a Decepticon) or Boombox Su-75 Femboy (do it NATO) Z-10 Hike Y-20 Crate

[@hirumaryuei]

I see you're a man of culture as well

[@PrograError]

Dragon ("Long"/ "Loong") is a important creature in Chinese culture, phoenix is more western. (the Emperor/ Imperial items is always dressed up with those deco) also Chinese dragon is more snake like than birds of the western dragon.

[@DrymouthCWW]

Ok i DO want those airmodels by Crom!

[@cale115]

MiG 29 with the ocean blue and white camo is the prettiest jet ever produced.

[@BrettP-or1jb]

Russia and China don't have a Letter designation for Attack Aircraft. NATO decided that Attack Aircraft had even numbers after their design bureau designation. Examples of this are: Su-22 Fitter Su-24 Fencer and Mig-34 Fullback. Likewise Fighters had odd numbers.

[@ArmorCast]

That’s a convention (Russian, nothing to do with NATO), but it’s not always followed - Su-25 and Su-17 attack aircraft, or on the flip side the Su-30 fighter

[@fonesrphunny7242]

MiG-34? ouch

[@rebel6301]

that thumbnail makes them look like roommates in a sitcom or something of that sort if it doesnt exist already, someone out there needs to make a show about bear fulcrum and hind living in the same apartment

[@frederf3227]

Fishbed L had the Lazur datalink GCI system and was used for PVO intercept service in home country defense while Fishbed N were used expeditionally with VVS where all weather more autonomous capability was desired. The N traded Lazur for the POLYOT-OI system.

[@ArmorCast]

Thing is, Lazur and Polyot are not overly different, and their main noticeable functional differences are in their autopilot capabilities, which an opposing aircraft would never be able to distinguish. I assume the two MiG-21bis versions used the same name initially, but were split into L and N versions after NATO began to work with air forces operating them, and needed to make the distinction for the sake of navigation... but I could be completely wrong. Still, the point is that it's weird for MiG-21M, 21N and 21S to all just get Fishbed-J, despite their notable differences (different radars allowing guidance or not of radar-homing weapons, a huge consideration in combat), when MiG-21bis gets two different letters... especially when you then get Flogger-J and Flogger-J2, or Flanker-L and Flanker-L+ out of nowhere! Why could the Polyot version of the bis not be designated "Fishbed-L2" or N2 ?? Why could MiG-21S not be designated "Fishbed-M", or take "Fishbed-L"? What the hell is up with the plus sign in "Flanker-L+" ?!?! 😂

[@bobtaylor9779]

Names with 2 syllables denote a jet engined aircraft, e.g Flanker. One syllable for rotary like a helicopter or propped engine. e.g. Bear or Hind. it was this way in the 80's when i first learned this.

[@ArmorCast]

Doesn't apply to helicopters - Havoc or Hokum or Hoodlum for example

[@bobtaylor9779]

@@ArmorCast Very true, it was all good until the Havoc came out, may be they ran out of catchy single syllable H words and decided to sod it all and just do 2 syllables. l.ol

[@mortified776]

Suggestions for the SAMs: Grudge, Gladhand, Gorgon, Graphite, Gannet, Gradient, Galleon, Gosling. For Bulava: Saiga, Salient, Saracen, Scimitar?

[@ArmorCast]

Gorgon is taken actually, by an exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic-missile system, Russian designation 51T6 www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/gorgon.htm

[@mortified776]

@@ArmorCast I had a feeling it had been! But when I checked I specifically searched "Gorgon surface-to-air missile" so it must have discarded returns for the ABM system because it is technically a spacecraft.

[@annasolovyeva1013]

Saiga is a hunting rifle, a civillian nerfed AK...

[@MeNanWazaHowitzer]

When is the next why your tank sucks video coming 😅

[@triadwarfare]

I do wonder if the MiG-15's F name was an insult when it was designated thay name, or it just grew to become an insult because of the reputation it gained?

[@jasonscarborough94]

11:23 damn, the MiG-15 just can't catch a break when it comes to NATO nicknames can it?

[@PrograError]

maybe cos it's a widowmaker during the civil rights era? IIRC they say that MiG-15 is a lot stronger than what the USAF had at the time.

[@CharChar2121]

I've always wondered why the KA-52 is called the Hokum. Or is it Crocodile? I can't remember, haha

[@cockatoo010]

Hokum is the NATO reporting name, but the russians nickname it "Alligator"

[@Kukang6G]

Do you have some citations? not questioning stuff, just wanted some reading

[@radosaworman7628]

Also some indegenious planes of estern block countries never received nato reporting name name like TS-11 Iskra (polish "sprak") trainer/attacker from the 60s.

[@theromanorder]

In summary Things are randomly named with the first letter based off of the role of the fighter or vehicle For exsample a fighter could be called flinger A bomer blinder Suport (training, radio ect) were given the letter m One example is mittens