Attack, defend, pursue—the Space Force’s new naming scheme foretells new era

Over a century ago, the U.S. Army Air Service established a naming convention for its growing fleet of aircraft, giving rise to iconic designations such as the B-17 and P-51 during World War II. This system, which initially included prefixes like B for bomber and A for attack, later evolved, changing the pursuit category from P to F, resulting in modern classics like the F-15 and F-16. In a significant development for the U.S. military, the Space Force is introducing its own naming protocol aimed at categorizing its 'weapon systems' both on Earth and in space. Documents reviewed by Ars reveal that this initiative, which originated in 2023 and was updated in 2024, seeks to streamline the often cumbersome bureaucratic acronyms that have characterized military nomenclature. The memorandum, formally known as Space Force Instruction 16-403, was signed by then-Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, who is now a four-star general and the vice chief of space operations. This new guideline outlines how the Space Force will designate its systems, mandating that all new programs developed after the instruction's effective date must have a specific designator. The naming convention will incorporate letters to indicate the system's purpose and orbital function, followed by numerical identifiers for design series. John Shaw, a former lieutenant general in the Space Force, shared insights from discussions dating back to 2018 regarding the need for a fresh naming strategy, which had previously stalled within the Air Force framework. Shaw expressed optimism that the establishment of the Space Force has finally paved the way for a new beginning in military designations, stating, "I’m glad to see that it’s becoming reality."