ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

United States military aircraft engine designations

When the United States military makes an airplane, they give the engine a name to help people know what kind of engine is in the plane. It’s like giving the engine a nickname!

The name usually starts with a letter that tells you what kind of engine it is. For example, the letter “F” means that the engine is a fan jet engine that pushes air out behind it to make the plane go.

Next comes a number that tells you how much power the engine has. The higher the number, the more powerful the engine is.

Finally, there might be another letter or two that tells you more about the engine, like if it can work well at high altitudes or if it’s good for short takeoffs and landings.

So, when people talk about United States military aircraft engine designations, they are basically just using special names to talk about the engines in the planes.