Confederation spacecraft designations.

WCX

Rear Admiral
Alright, I have FINNALY ended my 5 year campaign of lurking around the flight deck and have decided to make my voice heard. Please be gentle.:eek:

I’ve always been a sucker for details, so it should be no surprise that when if comes to wing Commander (hereafter lovingly referred to as WC) I wondered about the Confederation spacecraft designation system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designation_system

I started this chart some time ago, mainly just for kicks, but I’ve recently realized that this is a great wealth of information that should be shared with all. The information comes from WC documents found at the CIC, along with information gleamed from the novels, movie, TV series, magazine ads, and yes even fan websites (the good folks at Gaia Industries appear to have done the same thing and back up a few of the listed designations).

This list only covers a particular spacecraft’s “golden age”, when they where in frontline use by Confed, not second-hand users, reserve roles, or revivals (such as the case with Broadswords making a comeback during the Nephilim wars).

A solid date (26XX) indicate absolute known time of operation. Arrows (<- / ->) before or after such a date indicates that the craft was most likely in service but said dates are unknown.

NOTES:
1.) I use the Scimitar designation found in the WC bible rather than the odd WC: Confed manual version since, well, it just feels right (also because the official designations for the Rapier and Broadsword appear to be the game variants).

2.) Even though the fighters in the animated series WC: Academy where supposed to be Epees, I don’t count them as such, namely because it was specify stated that the Epee came as a later replacement to Hornet about 7 years after the show takes place.

3.) The age of the Hurricane fighters. Geoffrey Tolwyn states that the fighter is ALMOST twice his age (which I take to mean: Tolwyn’s age, multiply by two, subtract one).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

?-## Hummer (Atmospheric?) light recon/ strike <-2634->
?-## Hawk Atmospheric-only Fighter <-2634->
F-## Gotha Interceptor (Surface-to-space) <-2634->
F-## Hurricane dual role, atmo-capable escort fighter 2593-2634
F-## Wildcat pure space interceptor 2604-2639
?-## Minotaur ???? <-2534-2634->
F-## Corsair ??Fighter 2634/2635->

?-## Falcon Heavy bomber / Light Corvette <-2634-2668
?-## Gladiator heavy space to ground bomber <-2593-2634->
?-## Trident Heavy bomber (Atmospheric capable) <-2634->

F-10 Merlin ?? Fighter (atmo-capable?) <-2633->
F-27 Arrow Light Fighter 2654-2681 Douglas Aerospace
F-32 Scimitar Medium Fighter 2635-2655 Origin Aerospace
F-36 Hornet Light fighter 2644-2661 Origin Aerospace
F-38 Talon Medium fighter 2642-2644
F-44 Rapier II Medium fighter 2654-2668 Origin Aerospace
F-54 Epee Light Attack fighter 2661-2668
F-57 Saber Heavy fighter (2654) 2654-2669
P-64 Ferret Patrol fighter 2637?-2661-2668
HF-66 Thunderbolt VII Heavy Fighter 2669-2674 Douglas Aerospace
F-71 Stiletto Light fighter <-2667-2669->
F/A-76 Longbow Torpedo Bomber 2654?-2681 McCall Industries
F-86 Hellcat V Medium Fighter 2668/9-2674 Douglas Aerospace
YF-95 Morningstar Prototype Heavy fighter 2667-2668
YF-97 Wraith Prototype medium fighter 2667-2669
F-98 Phantom Light/Heavy Fighter <-2669
F-103 Excalibur heavy fighter 2669-2681-> Douglas Aerospace
F-104 Bearcat interceptor <-2674-> Douglas Aerospace
F/A-105 Tigershark multi-role fighter <-2681->
F-106 Piranha light scout fighter <-2681->
F-107 Lance “Dragon” heavy fighter <-2681->
F-108 Panther medium fighter <-2681->
F-109 Vampire heavy fighter <-2681->
F-110 Wasp interceptor <-2681->


A-14 Raptor heavy fighter <-2639- 2668 Origin Aerospace
A-15 Gladius Fighter-Bomber 2667-2669
A-17 Broadsword Torpedo bomber/Patrol Craft 2632-2669 Camelot Industries
YA-18 Crossbow Torpedo Bomber 2667
A-20 Banshee fighter-bomber 2669
TB-80 Devastator heavy bomber 2681->
TB-81 Shrike medium bomber 2681->


F-## Fury ??Fighter <-2701->
F-## Hurricane II ?? Fighter <-2701->
F-## Aurora ?? Fighter <-2701->
F-## Crusader ?? Fighter <-2701->

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ok. That said, I propose several questions.

1.) Any educated (of semi-logical) guess as to the designations for the pre-war and post-war space craft might be?
Since the Hellcat’s designation is F-86, I would suggest that the Wildcat be something akin to F-#4, to echoing the World War II similarity between the F4F Wildcat and the F6F Hellcat.

2.) Why do the Devastator and Shrike have the “TB” designation, but every torpedo bomber (and then some) before them have the “A” designation? These are the things I think about when I’m home alone and the power goes out.


Anyway, look this over and make your critiques. :cool:

Salute!
 
Um, just a quick heads-up, but citing Wikipedia entries, especially in regards to WC continuity, isn't exactly helping your case any.

Wikipedia's greatest claim to fame is also its worst flaw: anyone can edit it, without having to prove knowledge of the issue being discussed.
 
Well, WCX, you have read this forums for some years (and so did I) so you might already know that some people here don't like Wikipedia (and have their reasons for that), but back to topic:

First of all: I like that sort of list where you can see almost everything at first glance.
But I have to say that I fear your list will never be complete, because we don't know a lot of the data you would like to gather here. Still it is interesting.

But now I'll stop writing my opinion and let the real experts post what they know.
I'm really looking forward to what this thread could become. :)
 
Okay, but that Wikipedia article *does* cite its references and is old enough and has had enough edits for reasonable rapport to be established. Usually articles as old and active as that one which contain falsities are corrected or clearly marked for future correction.

Your bias against Wikipedia doesn't always make sense.

Besides, the original poster was not suggesting that the Confederation uses the United States fighter designations scheme, but rather provided the link to explain what he was talking about.

I cite Wikipedia articles if I believe they are well thought out, informative and correct, and nobody else should be afraid to.

Stop being jerks. :>
 
From what I've observed, if I've got your questions right, is that WC mostly follows modern US military aircraft designation for pre and post war designators. So F stands for fighter A=attack B=bomber,etc. With the possible exception of TB which used to stand for Torpedo Bomber but we really don't have Torpedo Bombers anymore and T usually designates a trainer plane. Oh and U typically designates a utility plane.

A designation like A-14B would usually designate an attack craft in it's second, third, fourth, whatever, modified release. Usually, once again US military, B after the number designates a two seat trainer version of the craft in question i.e. F-16B would be a fully capable combat aircraft modified to be a trainer while still retaining its orignal capabilities. This is always true, particularly in the case of the F-35 Lightning which has letter designators for its Air Force, Navy, and Marine( the A is the Air Force version the B for the Marines and C for the Navy). Somewhere I read that the number also denotes the model number of the design that worked for a flying prototype to be based off of. So the YF-16 was the sixteenth design the builders put together and settled on for their prototype and any further changes afterward would effect that number, which is why you have th YF-17 Cobra becoming the F\A-18 Hornet. But I don't know how accurate that is because the military also jumped over F-19 and went to 20 for the Tigershark and everybody speculated that 19 was actually the F-117 Nighthawk.


TB-80\81 was most likely used to give it Prophecy a bit of a different feel and personality, more than any change in canon designations, simply because it was adifferent team working on the game.

Anyway I love the list, but there are some fighters in there I've never heard of before. I did make up a Crusader fighter for my fanfic though. I even drew up a design.
 
Welcome to the boards! Looks like some well-thought work. Here's a similar thread that covers the same area: http://www.crius.net/zone/showthread.php?t=21916 (not that we can't have more than one - in fact, it's encouraged.)

Some comments...

1.) I use the Scimitar designation found in the WC bible rather than the odd WC: Confed manual version since, well, it just feels right (also because the official designations for the Rapier and Broadsword appear to be the game variants).

I can't disagree more strongly with this point - information found in the bible is not part of the continuity. It's interesting trivia, it lets us know what someone was thinking about the series at one point... but we can't take it over something like the Confederation Handbook, no matter how much we might want to.

(As for the designations, it's likely that there was some reorganization similar to the cross-service designation system that premiered in the middle of the 20th century... which changed things like the Phantom II from the F-110 into the F-4. We can leave out the Rapier, since it's a seprate fighter entirely.)

2.) Even though the fighters in the animated series WC: Academy where supposed to be Epees, I don’t count them as such, namely because it was specify stated that the Epee came as a later replacement to Hornet about 7 years after the show takes place.

On the other hand, I think you're completely right to do this. We have no actual confirmation that those ships are supposed to be Epees; it's what fans decided they were in 1996 and the classification has stuck... until we see some more Academy production materials we just have no way of knowing what even the intent was. They're never called Epees on-screen, and I have my personal doubts as to whether or not that was ever the idea. The same applies to the Sabres.

F-10 Merlin ?? Fighter (atmo-capable?) <-2633->

Capable of landing in an atmosphere, at the very least.

F-86 Hellcat V Medium Fighter 2668/9-2674 Douglas Aerospace

This one is 'fanon' - the F-86 designation does not appear anywhere in the continuity. It's definately even suggested against by the fact that we see Hellcats way back in 2654 on Wing Commander Academy.

YF-95 Morningstar Prototype Heavy fighter 2667-2668
YF-97 Wraith Prototype medium fighter 2667-2669

Both of these became production fighters - we hear about the Morningstar's exploits in the Academy manual and we see the "production version of the Wraith" in

F-98 Phantom Light/Heavy Fighter <-2669
F-103 Excalibur heavy fighter 2669-2681-> Douglas Aerospace

F-104 Bearcat interceptor <-2674-> Douglas Aerospace

Shouldn't this be 2673? They seem to be in production in Wing Commander IV.
 
I cite Wikipedia articles if I believe they are well thought out, informative and correct, and nobody else should be afraid to.

The problem with citing Wikipedia from an academic standpoint isn't tied directly to its accuracy, although that's obviously a problem. It's more an issue of culpability; if I write a paper that says the Bearcat was 50 meters long and I cite a source where Chris Reid wrote that then it isn't necessarily my fault if it's wrong. It's necessary to the academic process to be able to 'follow the money' back to the the origin point of a fact or a thought... not only to assess blame but to properly re-evaluate thinking.

The basic design of the Wikipedia prevents this from being possible - it's a shifting and frequently anonymous resource, to say nothing of it operating outside the preset confines of the academic process in the first place (people spend years and years getting accredited for a reason.) When people criticize the Wikipedia, they aren't doing so because it's necessarily *wrong* in a particular case but because it has the potential to be disasterous when it is.

... that said, it doesn't really matter in this case, or in most cases where the Wikipedia is referenced at message boards. It's a nice quick way for those unfamiliar to learn how things work on a fairly simple level.

... no more Wikipedia talk - move it to a new thread, but don't let it further mess with this good one. :)
 
Great information at a glance! I am particularly interested in the early fighters from the early 2600's. Do we have any additional information on them? Were they used against the Kilrathi when the fleets were comprised mostly of battleships?
 
WCX,

Nice digging. Instead of using Wiki, you should help us work on WCPedia. That way we can clear this stuff up for Wingnuts.
 
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F-86 Hellcat V Medium Fighter 2668/9-2674 Douglas Aerospace
This one is 'fanon' - the F-86 designation does not appear anywhere in the continuity. It's definately even suggested against by the fact that we see Hellcats way back in 2654 on Wing Commander Academy.

LOAF - I remember you actually offering the designation F-40 as a more appropriate one specifically because WCATV...
This designation would put it right in between the older ships (Scimitar and Talon) and the newer ones (Rapier II and onwards...)
 
Thank you all for the, uh, mixed welcome. I’m glad some people where able to deduce the reason for the wiki post.

As I’m looking over the list again, I’m spotted a few more minor mistakes (LOAF, you are correct about the Bearcat being in production by 2673. The Dragon should also be listed at the same date. Probably just a case of ‘coppypasta’.) As I said before, this is a work in progress, with no foreseeable completion. I mealy over my list up to the masses so they can run and frolic about in the vastness of space with it. Adjust dates and designations to your likings. At some point I will put up a similar chart of Kilrathi fighters, and if I can get around to it, a list of capships and support craft for booth sides.

Incidentally, for those who may be wondering, the Fury, Hurricane II, Aurora, and Crusader fighters are all mentioned within the text of Star*Soldier.

Good sir LOAF, you are very much correct in regards to the issue with the Scimitar.
I full understand that published materials take presidency/seniority over design notes. It’s just that the CF-105 designation makes it feel like the odd one out (unless that’s the way all the older spacecraft where done), not to mention that the number 105 is also used by the Tigershark. Perhaps the two should have a duel to see who is worthy of the numerical designation? Wait a second, the CF-105 designation historically belonged to the Avro Arrow. Hmm, the plot thickens.

On a somewhat related note, I know the CF-117 Rapier is considered a different craft from the F-44 Rapier II, but I was always curious what the concessions was regarding the WC movie version of the Broadsword and its designation of CF-131? I know that during WW2, some B-17 Flying Fortresses were converted to long-range photographic reconnaissance aircraft, designated F-9 Flying Fortress. Perhaps there’s something there?

Anyway, forgive my ramblings. These are just my thoughts and opinions, and I am but one man.
 
I always thought that the CF series was an original designation prior to WC1, and then there was some redesignation done when a new system was implemented.
 
LOAF - I remember you actually offering the designation F-40 as a more appropriate one specifically because WCATV...
This designation would put it right in between the older ships (Scimitar and Talon) and the newer ones (Rapier II and onwards...)

Well, you can see from my first post that the Scimitar's designation isn't really right. :)

We just don't know how old the Hellcat is... if the ships at the Flight School in 2654 are Hellcats (and that was surely the intention) then they seem to be quite old indeed. We not only see them flown (in the TrainSim) but also in the form of a statue.

On the other hand, my favorite story is that these are 'Wildcats' (from Action Stations) and that the Hellcat is a newer design... in which case F-86 (however unofficial) works fine. That story is just as fan-invented as the designation, though, and the episode was certainly written with Hellcats in mind.

As I’m looking over the list again, I’m spotted a few more minor mistakes (LOAF, you are correct about the Bearcat being in production by 2673. The Dragon should also be listed at the same date. Probably just a case of ‘coppypasta’.)

Dragon... or Lance? ;)

Seriously, though, I'm thinking the Dragon should be 2672 rather than 2673... Origin ran these wonderful 'car advertisement' posters for the "2672 Model" when the Playstation port was released (ten years ago? Oh God.)

Incidentally, for those who may be wondering, the Fury, Hurricane II, Aurora, and Crusader fighters are all mentioned within the text of Star*Soldier.

Which seems to takes the names from one of the Privateer Online proposals (plus the addition of a much-needed II after Hurricane!)

I full understand that published materials take presidency/seniority over design notes. It’s just that the CF-105 designation makes it feel like the odd one out (unless that’s the way all the older spacecraft where done), not to mention that the number 105 is also used by the Tigershark. Perhaps the two should have a duel to see who is worthy of the numerical designation? Wait a second, the CF-105 designation historically belonged to the Avro Arrow. Hmm, the plot thickens.

I think the idea is that the Scimitar is really really really really really really really really really really old. The Handbook says that the CF-117 Rapier has largely supplanted the "earlier" Scimitar... and development of the Rapier started in *2527*!

They both fall under some earlier system of organization which doesn't translate directly into the current system (which didn't reach 105 until after the war.) There's probably actually 'current' designations for both... we just don't know what they are (probably very low, down around the F-10 Merlin which also flew in the Pilgrim War.)

What I would do is start an additional chart listing the 'CF' designations... there are five or so of them out there, with one or two of them found in odd places.

On a somewhat related note, I know the CF-117 Rapier is considered a different craft from the F-44 Rapier II, but I was always curious what the concessions was regarding the WC movie version of the Broadsword and its designation of CF-131? I know that during WW2, some B-17 Flying Fortresses were converted to long-range photographic reconnaissance aircraft, designated F-9 Flying Fortress. Perhaps there’s something there?

The Broadsword is the same ship, it just gets a new designation. In fact, the in-game Arena bio for one of the Broadsword variants mentions that they first flew against the Pilgrims. (The B-17 does point out how fluid these systems can be - first it became the F-9, then the RB-17... and then 'F' was reused for fighters instead... it's always been a work in progress, even in real life.)

Thank you all for the, uh, mixed welcome. I’m glad some people where able to deduce the reason for the wiki post.

Don't worry too much - it's just that we're all fanatics about this kind of thing. We're actually nice people once you get to know us... just don't take anything said at the CZ too seriously.
 
On the other hand, my favorite story is that these are 'Wildcats' (from Action Stations) and that the Hellcat is a newer design...

LOAF, I concur with your wildcat/hellcat assessment. While I have nothing aginst the idea of Hellcats being old birds, I’ve always felt that WC: Academy needs to be taken with a few grains of salt (I refer again the Epee issue).

Dragon... or Lance? ;)

I don’t know. :eek: I see it called both, so one must be some sort of official designation, while the other must be a nickname. (i.e. the A-10 Thunterbolt II being nicknamed “Warthog” or the F-22 Raptor originally being called “Lightning II”, even though that title was later handed to the F-35). Personally, I’m inclined to call it the Dragon.

Origin ran these wonderful 'car advertisement' posters for the "2672 Model" when the Playstation port was released (ten years ago? Oh God.)

Don’t feel alone here, I remember that add quite well, and I am 99.98% sure that I still have it somewhere. I always did wonder about those “custom Kilrathi leather seats”. Where they implying leather of Kilrathi manufacture, or literal “cat-skin seat covers”, so to speak.:rolleyes:

We're actually nice people once you get to know us... just don't take anything said at the CZ too seriously.

“Never do, Drop One.”:cool:


Alright, after much ado, I offer a slightly updated version of the list, including support craft.

NOTES:

1.) The older “CF” system is interspersed among ship types, and I have included “modern” designations (be they official or semi) to suggest how the older craft where placed in the newer system.

2.) As for dates, I’m forced to make some (dangerous) assumptions: The novels frequently refer to certain craft (mostly pre-war ones) as “old”. The only context offered is with the Minotaur, stating that they “must be well over a hundred years old”, therefore, I make the leap of logic that “old” to the various authors must mean a century or thereabouts (there is one exception to this though). However, I have no clue what constitutes an ‘ancient’ space craft, but I assume it is somewhat similar. Thus I have listed the hypothetical earlier date with a question mark (?) following it.

3.) While the Marine landing craft described in End Run ‘could’ be the CF-337, there is no evidence for or aginst it.

4.) On a personal note, while many people’ bring the hate’ for the Scimitar (as I was once guilty of), I am impressed by the fact that the Scimitar (old by 2527) is still in use by one faction or another until 2674 (perhaps even longer if the cameo in Star*Soldier is more than just that). This stands in sharp contrast to a young Tolwyn complaining about the Wildcat being 30 yers old, and at the very last tells me that the Scimitar is the AK-47 of starfighters: Built. To. Last.:cool:

Once again, just incase you missed it, this list only covers a particular spacecraft’s “golden age”, when they where in frontline use by Confed, not second-hand users, reserve roles, or revivals (such as the case with Broadswords making a comeback during the Nephilim wars).

A solid date (26XX) indicate absolute known time of operation. Arrows (<- / ->) before or after such a date indicates that the craft was most likely in service but said dates are unknown.


?-## Hummer (Atmospheric?) light recon/ strike <-2634->
?-## Hawk Atmospheric-only Fighter <-2634->
F-## Gotha Interceptor (Surface-to-space) <-2534?-2634->
F-## Hurricane dual role, atmo-capable escort fighter <-2593-2634->
F-## Wildcat pure space interceptor 2604-2639
?-## Minotaur ???? <-2534-2634->
F-## Corsair ??Fighter 2634/2635->

?-## Falcon Heavy bomber / Light Corvette <-2568?-2634-2668
?-## Gladiator heavy space to ground bomber <-2534?-2593-2634->
?-## Trident Heavy bomber (Atmospheric capable) <-2634->

CF-105 / F-32 Scimitar Medium Fighter <-2527-2655 Origin Aerospace
CF-117 Rapier 2527-2654

F-10 Merlin ?? Fighter (atmo-capable?) <-2633->
F-27 Arrow Light Fighter 2654-2681 Douglas Aerospace
F-36 Hornet Light fighter 2644-2661 Origin Aerospace
F-38 Talon Medium fighter 2642-2644
F-44 Rapier II Medium fighter 2654-2668 Origin Aerospace
F-54 Epee Light Attack fighter 2661-2668
F-57 Saber Heavy fighter (2654) 2654-2669
P-64 Ferret Patrol fighter 2637?-2661-2668
HF-66 Thunderbolt VII Heavy Fighter 2669-2674 Douglas Aerospace
F-71 Stiletto Light fighter <-2667-2669->
F/A-76 Longbow Torpedo Bomber 2654?-2681 McCall Industries
F-86 Hellcat V Medium Fighter 2668/9-2674 Douglas Aerospace
F-95 Morningstar Heavy fighter 2667-2668
F-97 Wraith medium fighter 2667-2669
F-98 Phantom Light/Heavy Fighter <-2669
F-103 Excalibur heavy fighter 2669-2681-> Douglas Aerospace
F-104 Bearcat interceptor <-2673-2674-> Douglas Aerospace
F/A-105 Tigershark multi-role fighter <-2681->
F-106 Piranha light scout fighter <-2681->
F-107 Dragon heavy fighter <- 2672-2674 ->
F-108 Panther medium fighter <-2681->
F-109 Vampire heavy fighter <-2681->
F-110 Wasp interceptor <-2681->


A-14 Raptor heavy fighter <-2639- 2668 Origin Aerospace
A-15 Gladius Fighter-Bomber 2667-2669
A-17/ CF-131 Broadsword Torpedo bomber/Patrol Craft 2632-2669 Camelot Industries
A-18 Crossbow Torpedo Bomber 2667
A-20 Banshee fighter-bomber 2669
TB-80 Devastator heavy bomber 2681->
TB-81 Shrike medium bomber 2681->


F-## Fury ??Fighter <-2701->
F-## Hurricane II ?? Fighter <-2701->
F-## Aurora ?? Fighter <-2701->
F-## Crusader ?? Fighter <-2701->


Support Craft

Sheridan marine landing craft. <-2534?-2593-2634->
Wasp jump-capable personnel transport <-2534?-2634->
Greyhound Shuttle <-2654 ->
Hermes deep space assault shuttle <-2667->
C-36 Alpha / R Type Shuttle <-2669-2674->

SR-51 Seahawk Spaceborne Early Warning/Spaceborn Warning and Control Ship <-2681->
SAR-23 Condor Search & Rescue/Refuel Shuttle <-2681->
CF-337 Marine Landing Craft/Shuttle <-2654->
##### Hercules Marine Landing Craft/Shuttle <-2681->
 
LOAF, I concur with your wildcat/hellcat assessment. While I have nothing aginst the idea of Hellcats being old birds, I’ve always felt that WC: Academy needs to be taken with a few grains of salt (I refer again the Epee issue).

The Epee thing isn't really Academy's fault, though - there's no evidence anywhere that the ships in question are supposed to be Epees... just fans deciding that they look sort of like them. :)

I don’t know. I see it called both, so one must be some sort of official designation, while the other must be a nickname. (i.e. the A-10 Thunterbolt II being nicknamed “Warthog” or the F-22 Raptor originally being called “Lightning II”, even though that title was later handed to the F-35). Personally, I’m inclined to call it the Dragon.

Sorry, I was just being cute -- this comes from the Wing Commander IV novelization and is exactly what you said. It's officially the "F-107 Lance" (an outgrowth of the Excalibur program - so the name makes sense)... and a frequent callsign which became the common name for them was 'Dragon.'

It's also where the 'Black Lance' name comes from (in-universe.)

Don’t feel alone here, I remember that add quite well, and I am 99.98% sure that I still have it somewhere.

I've got a few copies of the poster version still, I think - Captain Johnny gave me a handfull of them when I visited back in 1998. I've given most of them away over the years...

Anyway, as before - cool project, good work and it's far too much for me to check over from work. :) I'll give the list itself a look a little later...
 
Quick update. I’m not sure how I missed it, but WC: Arena states that the Arrow (scout) entered service in 2650.
 
Quick update. I’m not sure how I missed it, but WC: Arena states that the Arrow (scout) entered service in 2650.

Which further suggests that the Scimitar is not the F-32 -- since it certainly isn't newer than the F-27 Arrow.
 
Ok, pointless rant time:

We have CF, presumably meaning “Confederation Fighter” or some such, similar to the designation used by Canada (CF-105 Avro Arrow).

While this works fine for the Scimitar (CF-105) Rapier (CF-117) and the Broadsword (CF-131), assuming the Broadsword was original treated more as a super-heavy fighter.
However, the one kink in this is the CF-337 Marine Landing Craft/Shuttle. While this might work if one where to think of the LC in the same light as the Broadsword, it might also indicate the CF designation represents a “mark”, such as with certain American vehicles and weapons (M-16 Rifle, M1A1 Main Battle Tank, M2 armored fighting vehicle, ect.)

One way or another, I’m fairly certain that the CF designation doesn’t represent a manufacturer; rather than adding an X designation for experimental models, Confed appears to use letter designations pertaining to the company manufacturer, similar to American manufacturer's codes used during World War 2.

http://rwebs.net/avhistory/acdesig/usnavy.htm

OA = Origin Aerospace
G = Douglas Aerospace

https://www.wcnews.com/articles/contest-nob.shtml

If there was some great change over in Confed’s spacecraft designation system, it appears to have taken place sometime between 2632 and 2633. This would mark the time that the Broadsword was reclassified A-17 (though if the movie material is any indicator, the CF-131 designation remained until at least 2654) and the introduction of the F-10 Merlin.

However, the one problem with this is that while the Broadsword was reclassified as A-17, later Attack craft such as the Raptor (A-14) and Gladius (A-15) receive lower numbers.

While in reality aircraft designation numbers aren’t dictated by any rules themselves, the general feel regarding Confed spacecraft was one of progressively moving numerically upwards (ie, F-106, F-107, F-108…ect) as time (and models) progress.

Quite the conundrum. But interesting stuff.
 
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