The aircraft are heading toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to rise. The new pods mark the first potential combat use of a system originally designed for training exercises.
Twelve F-16CJ Vipers from the South Carolina Air National Guard were spotted crossing the Atlantic Ocean on February 17, carrying Angry Kitten electronic warfare pods under their fuselages . The jets stopped at Lajes Field in the Azores before continuing east toward the U.S. Central Command area.
The Georgia Tech Research Institute developed the Angry Kitten system, which evolved from the older AN/ALQ-167 pods used for decades to simulate enemy electronic threats during training. The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center has been heavily involved in refining the system since the early 2010s.
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These F-16s are optimized for the “Wild Weasel” mission—suppressing and destroying enemy air defense systems . Iran fields a layered air defense network including Russian-supplied long-range missiles and mobile radar systems that can challenge fourth-generation fighters . The pods give non-stealth aircraft better protection when deliberately provoking enemy radars.
Angry Kitten uses Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology to detect, capture and manipulate radio frequency signals . The system can record hostile radar signals and send altered versions back, creating false targets and confusing returns. This makes it harder for surface-to-air missile systems to track real aircraft .
Engineers can modify jamming techniques in real time during missions and push updates to the pod based on what the system encounters . This adaptability matters because Iran’s air defense network includes both imported Russian systems and domestically developed platforms that can change frequencies or tactics .
The system has been flying on F-16s since 2017 but primarily for testing and training . This deployment may mark its first potential combat use, though this cannot be independently verified . The pods are just one part of a larger U.S. force buildup that includes stealth bombers and fifth-generation fighters .
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President Donald Trump said on February 20 that Iran should “negotiate a fair deal,” while also stating he is “considering” potential strikes . Analysts say a prolonged campaign would require extensive SEAD operations to dismantle Iran’s air defenses . “We had a jammer called ‘Angry Kitten’ built to be an adversary air jamming tool, and all of a sudden, the blue team said we kind of need that,” retired Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly previously explained . The deployment signals that the U.S. is positioning specialized electronic warfare capabilities for whatever comes next .
