Zahavan Imperial armed forces equipment designation system

In 1980 the imperial armed forces reformed its designation system for all military aircraft, all aircraft are assigned a status designation, a role designation, a type designation, and a series designation. The only required designations are the role designation, design designation, and series designation The system is commonly referred to as the RDS system occasionally the word imperial is placed in front of the abbreviation and the system is referred to as the IRDS system.

Status designation

 * NF Grounded permanent
 * NT Grounded temporary
 * XP Experimental
 * PT Prototype
 * TT Testing
 * ON Normal operations

Role designation
All aircraft in the Imperial armed forces have a role designation, they are as follows:
 * AF Fighter
 * AB Bomber/Attack
 * AS Strategic bomber/interdictor
 * AD Drone
 * AC Cargo
 * AE Electronic warfare
 * AF Tanker
 * AL Trainer
 * AO Observation
 * AM Maritime Patrol
 * AU Utility
 * AR Reconnaissance

Aircraft type designation
All aircraft that are not fixed wing aircraft carry a type designation as follows:
 * D Drone (UAV)
 * G Glider
 * H Helicopter
 * HA Helicopter attack
 * HG Helicopter gunship
 * HU Helicopter utility
 * HC Helicopter cargo
 * V VTOL/STOL
 * B Lighter than air (Blimp)

Design designation
All aircraft of a similar type and role are give a consecutive number designation.

Series designation
Aircraft of the same type are designated with a single letter code, beginning at A and continuing sequentially