In much the same manner as aircraft, missiles are typed by their general characteristic grouping. Such a grouping may show in what manner a missile is used, but it will not identify a particular missile. This general classification makes use of three items: (1) launch environment, (2) target environment (or mission), and (3) type of vehicle. These classifications will now be discussed in more detail.

Launch Environment: Launch environment may be air, ground, underground, or underwater. Thus the letters are A for air, G for ground, L for underground, and U for underwater. A more complete designation of missile launch environments is as follows:

• A Air

• B Multiple

• C Coffin

• F Individual

• G Ground

• H Silo stored

• L Silo launched

• M Mobile

• P Soft pad

• R Ship

• U Underwater.

Examples of this general classification are as follows:

• AIM Air-Interceptor Missile

• AGM Air-to-Ground (or Surface) Missile

• LGM Silo-launched Surface-to-Surface Missile

• UGM Underwater-to-Surface Missile.

A more typical example is as follows:

• ADM ?20 A, where

A implies "air," D "decoy," M "guided missile," the 20 implies the "20th design," and A the "A series."

Target Environment (or Mission): The second letter is used to designate the target environment or mission. This letter may be I for interceptor, G for...