Electronic Warfare

AN/ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod

Also known as

AN/ALQ-87
QRC-160-8

The AN/ALQ-87 was a General Electric ECM pod originally designated QRC-160-8, used on Vietnam-era strike aircraft for radar-jamming self-protection.

AN/ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod, ECM pod, Electronic Warfare

Image source: AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pods Late Type | ResKit

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: General Electric
Type: ECM pod
Service note: Vietnam War era

electronic warfare jamming aircraft

Specifications

Designation: AN/ALQ-87 (originally QRC-160-8)
Function: Aircraft electronic countermeasures / barrage noise jamming pod
Configuration count: 380 configurations
Mounting: 14-inch and 30-inch pylon bracket compatibility
Service period: First used in 1967; phased out in the early 1970s

Carrier Aircraft

The F-4C fact sheet lists one ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod in a typical 1967 loadout.

Aircraft	Type	Evidence
F-4 Phantom II	Twin-engine fighter-bomber	Listed in a typical 1967 configuration with one pod on the right inboard pylon.

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: First used in 1967 and phased out in the early 1970s.

Media

AN/ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod Images

AN/ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod, ECM pod, Electronic Warfare - view 1 — Source: AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pods Late Type | ResKit

AN/ALQ-87 electronic countermeasures pod, ECM pod, Electronic Warfare - view 2 — Source: AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pods Late Type | ResKit

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Sources

General Electric AN/ALQ-87 Configurations - Aviation ArchivesPublisher: Aviation Archives | Note: Supports General Electric identification, 380 configurations, and the 14-inch/30-inch mounting hardware described in the brochure transcription. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pod | IPMS/USA Reviews WebsitePublisher: IPMS/USA | Note: Supports original QRC-160-8 designation, 1967 first use, carrier-aircraft context, and early-1970s replacement by the AN/ALQ-119. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pods Late Type | ResKitPublisher: ResKit | Note: Supports image provenance for the late-type 1/48 product image and the pod's late-type designation. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 AN/ALQ-87 ECM Pods Early Type | ResKitPublisher: ResKit | Note: Supports image provenance for the early-type 1/32 product image and the pod's early-type designation. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports the F-4C loadout line that lists one ALQ-87 ECM pod on the right inboard pylon. | Accessed: 2026-06-27