REF ID:A612BB 

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USCIB: 29.l/2 20 

f \)St. I fl.> ,_:!. ~ ~~.. I -io. ~ s=:- ~ -~~!:,.- "- r • I' •• ! .30 September 195.3 L ~-,.. . " ;, , .. ~_ ... .,,.... -1· •• " . - ·- ~ ! .· . ()"" ...... ~ - ~ .. 

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--~ .. MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: Disclosure of the ADONIS (US) Cryptoprinciple to NATO 

Countries. 

1. The enclosure is circulated for the information of members at 

the suggestion of the Director, National Seourity Agency. 

2. The enclosure is considered of interest in connection with 

security problems involving third parties to BRUSA. 

Enclosure 

NSA ser 00752 dtd 26 SEP 195.3. 

REPRCDUOTION ClF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE 

OR PARr IS PRCHIBITED EXCEPT WITH 

PERMISSION OF THE ISSUING OFFICE. 

USCIB: 29.1/2 

8ECR£'T 

ptain, U. • Navy 

Executive Secretary, USCIB 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 04-21-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
UEJ)I~= A612 B .§... 

IJ.L.:t\J.U . .L:l..I • 

SECU~rr ( lf~FeRMATIQl>I 

NATION.AL SECURITY AGENCY 

WASHmGTON 25,, n. c. 

Serial: 00752 

26 SEP 195.3 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN, STATE-DEFENSE MILITARY INFORMATION CONTROL 

COMMITTEE 

SUBJECT: Disclosure of the ADONIS Cryptoprinciple to NATO Countries 

, l. The problem of secure communications for North Atlantic Treaty 

0.rganization (NATO) military forces has been considered in a series.of 

Bllllual. conferences on communication security matters between the u.s. 

and the U.K. Existing cryptographic systems available for NATO use 

are inadequate. Except £or NATO Coni'idential and Restricted, all NATO 

c1assitied messages.nla.y be encrypted only in systems authorized by the 

Standing Group. The only authorized systems now are: 

a. One-time pads. This system is not reasible for widespread 

use. 

b. One-time tape equipment. This system is not £easible £or 

widespread use and there is an inadequate supply or equipment. 

c. The British Typex/Simplex. This system is limited in the 

same wa;y as one-time pads and by an inadequate supply of ma.chines. 

d. The Combined Cipher Machine. 

e. The French modified M-209 for low-echelon use. 

2. The Combined Cipher Machine (COM) is being used among second 

level NATO commands only. There are not enough machines for distribution to lower levels. Furthermore, the COM is considered by u.s. and 

U.K. experts to offer less security than desired and should be replaced 

as soon as suitable equipments become available. 

3. The u.s. Joint Chiefs of Starr and the British Chiefs o.t' Staf'.t' 

have considered the matter of replacement of the COM and both have 

approved joint Conference recommendations that the machine selected to 

replace the CCM be also used as the NATO machine. 

4. The cryptoprinciple favored by the u.s. Joint Chiefs of Staf'f 

for replacement of the COM is the ADONIS cryptoprinciple as embodied in 

the AFSAM-7 and the AFSAM-47B. The ADONIS crypto unit consists of an 

Enclosure with USCIB 29.1/2 dated 30 September 195.3. 

SECRET 
• 

• 

REF ID:A612BB 

SECRET 9 i~YR.R"Y ltlFeRM>n=ler• 

Serial: 00752 

26 SEP 195.3 

eight-rotor non-reciprocal permuting maze. The rotors have .'.36 contact 

points and are constructed with rotatable and interchangeable alphabet 

and notch rings. The notch rings govern the stepping of the rotors 

during operation. Ten output contact points of the maze are permanently 

connected to ten input contact points as re-entry circuits thus confining ,the cipher output to 26 letters. The ADONIS cryptoprinciple is 

considered by both U.S. and U.K. cryptographic experts to afford . adequate security for the purpose intended, and that its disclosure 

'Will not endanger U.S. communication security. 

5. It is requested that the State-Defense Military Information 

Control Committee approve the release of the ADONIS cryptoprinciple 

to the, NATO nations for the purpose of meeting NATO military communication security requirements. 

Copy furnished: 

Executive Secretary, USCIB 

(Signed) 

RALPH J. CANINE 

Lieutenant General, US ArmyDirector 

2 

SECRET