Chinese Weapon System Designations

Chinese Weapon System Designations

Space Related Equipment
English Acronym	Chinese (Pinyin)	English Translation	Use
SZ	Shén Zhōu	Divine Boat	Manned Spacecraft
TL	Tian Lian	Heavenly Link	Data Relay Satellites
FY	Feng Yun	Wind and Clouds	Meteorological Satellites
HY	Hai Yang	Sea [Ocean?]	Maritime Surveillance Satellites
BD	Bei Dou	Big Dipper	GPS Satellites
YG	Yao Gan	Far Sensing	Intelligence Satellites (Spy)
JB	Jian Bing	Champion (in the soldierly sense)	Intelligence Satellites (Spy)
ZY	Zi Yuan	Resource	Earth Sciences Satellite (civilian mapping, etc)
FB	Feng Bao	Storm	Heavy Launch System
CZ	Chang Zheng	Long March	Human-rated Heavy Launch System
FH	Feng Huo	Wind and Fire (or Signal Fire)	Military Communications Satellites

Weapon Systems
English Acronym	Chinese (Pinyin)	English Translation	Use
CY	Chang Ying	Long Tassel (As in of a Qiang spear)	Anti Submarine Missile?
DF	Dong Feng	East Wind	Land-Based Ballistic Missiles
FJ	Fan Ji	Counter-attack	Anti-Ballistic Missiles
FY	Fei Long	Flying Dragon
FY	Fan Ying	Reaction	Explosive Reactive Armor
HJ	Hong Jian	Red Arrow	Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
HQ	Hong Qi	Red Flag	Surface to Air Missiles
HY	Hai Ying	Sea Eagle	Anti Ship Missile
JL	Julang	Giant Wave	Sea-Based Ballistic Missiles
KB	Kuang Biao	Berserk Tornado	Nuclear Bombs.
KD	Kong Di	Air-Ground	Land-Attack Cruise Missiles
LS	Lei Shi	Thunder Rock	Guided Bombs
LT	Lei Ting	Thunder Strike	Laser-Guided Bombs
LY	Lie Ying	Hunting Eagle (or Falcon)	Naval Surface to Air Missiles
PL	Pi Li	Thunder	Missiles
QW	Qian Wei	Vanguard	Man portable Surface to Air Missiles (MANPADs)
SD	Shan Dian	Lightning	Missiles
SY	Shang You	Upper Reaches (of a river)
TY	Tian Yan	Sky Swallow	Light Air-to-Air Missile
YJ	Ying Ji	Eagle Strike	Anti-Ship Missiles
YL (or Y)	Yu Lei (usually shortened to Yu )	Fish Thunder [Also: Yu lei literally means torpedo in Chinese]	Torpedoes

Aircraft Designation
Acronym	Full Version	English Translation	Use
CJ (初教)	Chuji Jiaolianji (初级教练机)	First-level Training Aircraft	Primary Trainer
H (轰)	Hongzhaji (轰炸机)	Bombing Aircraft	Bomber
J (歼)	Jianjiji (歼击机)	Destruction Strike Aircraft	Fighter
JL (教练)	Jiaolianji (教练机)	Training Aircraft	Trainer
Q (强)	Qiangjiji (强击机)	Assault Aircraft	Attack
SH (水轰)	Shuishang Hongzhaji (水上轰炸机)	Water-borne Bombing Aircraft	Maritime Bomber
WZ (无侦)	Wuren Zhenchaji (无人侦察机)	Unmanned Reconnaissance	Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
KJ (空警)	(空中预警机)		Airborne Early Warning
X (滑翔)	Xiangji (滑翔机)		Glider
Y (运)	Yunshuji (运输机)	Transportation Aircraft	Transport
Z	Zhishengji (直升机)	Vertical-ascending Aircraft	VTOL/Helicopter

Aircraft Prefix Modifications Examples are: HD (轰电): Bomber, modified for EW HJ (轰教): Bomber Trainer HU (轰油): Bomber, modified as tanker HZ (轰侦): Reconnaissance Bomber JJ (歼教) Fighter Trainer JZ (歼侦): Reconnaissance Fighter QD (强电): Attacker, modified for EW
Acronym	Full Version	English Translation	Use
D (电)	Dianzhan (电子作战机)	Electronics	Electronic Warfare
J (教)	Jiaolian (教练机)	Training	Trainer
U (油)	You (加油机)	Oil	Tanker
Z (侦)	Zhencha (侦察机)	Reconnaissance	Reconnaissance

Small Arms Designations
English Acronym	Chinese (Pinyin)	English Translation
Q	Qiang	Gun
Z	Zu	Family
B	Buqiang	Infantry Rifle
ZB	Zidong Buqiang	Assault Rifle (Mostly Ignored Today)
J	Jiguanqiang	Machine-Type Weapons (aka HMGs, etc)
C	Chongfengqiang	Submachine Gun

Currently-Used Small Arms Combinations
English Acronym	Chinese (Pinyin)	English Translation
QBZ	Qiang Buqiang Zu	Gun, Infantry Rifle, Family
QJZ	Qiang Jiguanqiang Zu	Gun, Machine-Type, Family
QSZ	Qiang Shouqiang Zu	Gun, Handgun, Family
QSW	Qiang Shouqiang Weisheng	Gun, Handgun, Silenced
QBB	Qiang Buqiang Banyongjiguanqiang	Gun, Assault rifle, Squad automatic weapon (as in Type 95 LSW)
QSZ	Qiang, Sandan, Zu	Gun, Spreading Munitions, Family (Shotguns)