BASIC
DESIGNATION
MEANING
AGM
Air-launched, surface-attack
guided missile
AIM
Air-launched, intercept-aerial
guided missile
ATM
Air-launched, training guided
missile
RIM
Ship-launched,
intercept-aerial guided missile
The basic designators are followed by a design
number; this may be followed by a modification
symbol of consecutive letters. A designation of
AGM-45C is identified as follows:
A—Air-launched
G—Surface-attack
M—Guided missile
45—Forty-fifth missile design
C—Third revision of the forty-fifth design
Most guided missiles are given popular names,
such as Sparrow, Sidewinder, Harpoon, and HARM.
These names are kept regardless of later modifications
to the original missile.
The external surfaces of all Navy guided missiles
(except radomes and antenna items) are painted white.
The color white has no identification color-coding
significance when used on guided missiles. There are
three
significant
color
codes
used
on
guided
missiles—yellow, brown, and blue. These color codes
indicate the explosive hazard contained within the
missile component.
Guided missiles are made up of a series of
subassemblies
(fig.
8-9
and
fig.
8-10).
The
subassemblies, related by function, form a major
section of the overall missile. These sections operate a
system such as guidance, control, armament (warhead
and fuzing), or propulsion. The major sections are
carefully connected to form the complete missile
assembly. The arrangement of major sections in the
missile assembly varies in missiles, depending on
missile type.
8-13
IR DOME
GUIDANCE-CONTROL
GROUP
TARGET
DETECTING
DEVICE
WARHEAD
ROCKET
MOTOR
WINGS
ANF0809
FINS
Figure 8-9.—Typical air-to-air guided missile.
GUIDANCE SECTION
ARMAMENT SECTION
WING
PROPULSION SECTION
FIN
CONTROL SECTION
ANF0810
Figure 8-10.—Typical air-to-surface guided missile.
