The Department of Defense has established a missile and rocket designation system. The designation of every guided missile includes letters that show the following information: 1. The environment from which the missile is launched 2. The primary mission of the missile 3. The type of missile The letters of the basic designator and their meaning are listed in table 8-2. Examples of common guided missile designators are as follows: 8-12 FIRST LETTER DESIGNATING LAUNCH ENVIRONMENT A Air B Multiple C Coffin F Individual M Mobile P Soft pad U Underwater R Ship DESCRIPTION Air launched Capable of being launched from more than one environment Stored horizontally or at least less than 45° angle in a protective enclosure and launched from the ground Carried and launched by one man Launched from a ground vehicle or movable platforms Partially or non-protected in storage and launched from the ground Launched from a submarine or other underwater device Launched from surface vessel, such as a ship or barge SECOND LETTER DESIGNATING MISSION SYMBOL D Decoy E Special electronic G Surface attack I Intercept aerial Q Drone T Training U Underwater attack W Weather DESCRIPTION Vehicles designed or modified to confuse, deceive, or divert enemy defenses by simulating an attack vehicle Vehicles designed or modified with electronics equipment or communications, countermeasures, electronic relay missions Vehicles designed to destroy enemy land or sea targets Vehicles designed to intercept aerial targets in defensive roles Vehicles designed for reconnaissance or surveillance Vehicles designed or permanently modified for training purposes Vehicles designed to destroy enemy submarines or other underwater targets or to detonate underwater Vehicles designed to observe, record, or relay data pertaining to meteorological phenomena THIRD LETTER DESIGNATING VEHICLE TYPE SYMBOL M Guided missile R Rocket N Probe DESCRIPTION An unmanned, self-propelled vehicle with remote or internal trajectory guidance A self-propelled vehicle whose flight trajectory cannot be altered after launch A non-orbital instrumented vehicle to monitor and transmit environmental information NOTE: The designation listed in the table covers all the guided missiles and rockets used within the Department of Defense. Therefore, all designations listed might not be used by the Navy. Table 8-2.—Guided Missile and Rocket Designations