The ADR-8 was an unguided

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

rocket A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely ...

developed by

Tracor Tracor, Inc. 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 ...

for use by the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

. It was used to dispense

chaff Chaff (; ) is dry, scale-like plant material such as the protective seed casings of cereal grains, the scale-like parts of flowers, or finely chopped straw. Chaff cannot be digested by humans, but it may be fed to livestock, ploughed into soil ...

from

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic aircraft, 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 ...

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

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Bibliography

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