Japan

大日本帝國陸軍航空隊

Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Kokutai

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service

Aircraft Code Names & Designations

1927 - 1932: "Type Number" Designation System

In 1927, as more and more locally-designed and -built aircraft were used, the Imperial Japanese Army began using a new aircraft designation system, consisting of a Type number based on the last two digits of the Japanese calendar year in which the aircraft was accepted for service, along with a description of the aircraft's role.

Example: Mitsubishi Army Type 87 Light Bomber (87 = National year 2587, Gregorian year 1927).

Manufacturer Designation Notes
Mitsubishi 2MB1 Army Type 87 Light Bomber 48 built in 1926 - 1929.
Kawasaki-Dornier Do N Do N Heavy Bomber / Army Type 87 Heavy Bomber 28 built in 1926 - 1932, including 6 - 9 by Army Artillery Arsenal; sometimes referred to as Ka 87 and Army Type 87 Night Bomber.
Mitsubishi 2MR1 Experimental Tobi-Type Reconnaissance Aircraft Two built in 1927.
Kawasaki KDA-2 Reconnaissance Aircraft Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft 710 built in 1927 - 1931 by Kawasaki and Tachikawa.
Ishikawajima T-3 Experimental Reconnaissance Aircraft One built in 1928.
Kawasaki KDA-3 Army Experimental Fighter Three built in 1928.
Mitsubishi 1MF2 Experimental Hayabusa-Type Fighter Two built in 1928.
Nakajima NC Army Type 91 Fighter 350 built by Nakajima in 1928 - 1934; 100 - 115 built by Ishikawajima in 1932 - 1934.
Mitsubishi 2MR7 Experimental Short Range Reconnaissance Aircraft One built in 1929.
Ishikawajima R-3 Trainer - Five built in 1929 - 1931; two evaluated by Army.
Kawasaki KDA-2 Army Type 88 Light Bomber 407 built in 1929 - 1933 by Kawasaki and Tachikawa.
Kawasaki KDA-5 Army Type 92 Fighter 385 built in 1930 - 1933.
Mitsubishi 2MR8 Army Type 92 Reconnaissance Aircraft 230 built in 1920 - 1934, including 100 by Army Artillery Arsenal.
Kawasaki KDA-6 Experimental Reconnaissance Aircraft Army Improved Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft One built in 1931.
Mitsubishi Army Type 92 Heavy Bomber Six license-built Junkers K 51 in 1931 - 1935.
Ishikawajima R-5 Experimental Trainer Two built in 1933.

Abbreviations and Translations

This designation system was expanded in 1932 to include a Project Designation and an Official Designation. Some existing aircraft were re-designated with Kitai numbers.


Japan Imperial Japanese Army
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Originally posted February 2013

Modified: 02/12/2013