• The United States has deployed a squadron of F-16CJ Block 52 Viper fighters equipped with a relatively new electronic warfare system, the Angry Kitten pod, toward the Middle East as part of an expanding military buildup near Iran. • Aircraft spotters and open-source intelligence observers reported on photos of twelve Vipers from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing transiting through Lajes Field in the Azores, Portugal, earlier this week, all visibly carrying under-fuselage Angry Kitten pods alongside other standard mission equipment. • This movement comes as diplomatic talks with Tehran continue to stall and as statements from U.S. • administration officials have hinted at the possibility of military action if negotiations fail. • The deployment marks a notable milestone for the Angry Kitten system, which until now has primarily been used in training and testing. • Experts say this could be its first appearance on an aircraft potentially headed for operational missions.
Article Summaries:
- The U.S. has moved a squadron of F‑16CJ “Wild Weasel” jets from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing to the Middle East, the first operational deployment of the new Angry Kitten electronic‑warfare pod. The pods, which use digital radio‑frequency memory to record, manipulate and retransmit enemy radar signals, replace older jamming systems with more agile, real‑time capabilities. The transit through Lajes Field in the Azores and the visible pods on the aircraft signal a heightened SEAD/DEAD posture amid stalled diplomatic talks with Iran and rising tensions in the region.
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