Tacit Rainbow was a project to develop a jet powered “mini” drone for finding and destroying enemy ground bases radars. The Tacit Rainbow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was conceived in the early 1980s using experience gained with anti-radar missiles in Vietnam. Its purpose was to supplement manned aircraft in striking enemy air defenses. The vehicle was designed for low cost production so that it could be used in “swarms” against dense enemy air defense ne(2)rks.

Designated AGM-136A by the Air Force, the Tacit Rainbow could be carried to a target striking distance and air-launched by bombers or fighters. Each vehicle was preprogrammed for a designated target area using the on-board computer and flight control system. Once launched, AGM-136A flew to its target area and “loitered” until it sensed transmissions from an enemy radar. Then it attacked. Unlike other anti-radiation missiles, Tacit Rainbow could not be “fooled” if the radar was turned off to avoid being hit. As long as fuel remained, it could wait and reattack that or another radar when operation resumed.

The first Tacit Rainbow air-launch occurred on July 30, 1984. More than 30 test launches were made, from both bombers and fighters, before the program was cancelled for budget reasons in 1991. Actual test vehicles were not recoverable; the UAV on display, however, was assembled from surviving assemblies and presented to the Museum in 1992.