The ADR-8 was an unguided

electronic countermeasures An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting info ...

rocket A rocket (from it, rocchetto, , bobbin/spool) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...

developed by

Tracor Tracor was a major North American defense electronics contractor which was acquired by Marconi Electronic Systems (MES), a subsidiary of General Electric Company plc, in 1998. Following the purchase of MES by British Aerospace in November 1999 t ...

for use by the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

. It was used to dispense

chaff Chaff (; ) is the dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material (such as scaly parts of flowers or finely chopped straw). Chaff is indigestible by humans, but livestock can eat it. In agri ...

from

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...

bombers.

Development

Originally given the designation RCU-2, the ADR-8 was developed for use by the

strategic bomber, to give the aircraft a means of dispensing chaff to disrupt enemy radar.Parsch 2005 Developed by

under a Quick Reaction Contract, the ADR-8 was a folding fin rocket of diameter. Following successful testing, production of the rocket was undertaken by Revere Copper and Brass.

Operational use

The rockets were fired from 20-shot AN/ALE-25 rocket pods mounted on pylons under the wings of the B-52s. The pods were long and weighed ; the rockets could be fired manually or automatically upon detection of a threat. They were installed on the final 18 B-52H aircraft constructed; earlier B-52Gs and B-52Hs were retrofitted with the system.Dorr and Peacock 2000, p.52. The ADR-8 and AN/ALE-25 were retired in September 1970, replaced by the "Phase VI" electronic warfare suite.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * {{US military rockets Cold War rockets of the United States Weapons countermeasures Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Military equipment introduced in the 1960s