A squadron of F-16 Block 52 aircraft belonging to the South Carolina Air National Guard were spotted flying east across the Atlantic Ocean, in the context of increasing US military reinforcements in anticipation of possible strikes against Iran, indicating an escalation in operational readiness.
Twelve fighter planes arrived at Lajes base in the Azores on February 17, then departed the next day with a mid-air refueling plane. More American refueling aircraft were also deployed to the base to support these reinforcements.
These fighters feature advanced equipment dedicated to the missions of suppressing and destroying enemy air defenses, known as “Wild Weasel,” making them suitable for any potential operations targeting air defense systems.
The planes were also seen equipped with modern electronic jamming pods called “Angry Kitten,” which is an advanced defensive system designed to disable radars and ground threats.
The Grumpy Cats system has its roots in a training project that was used to simulate electronic warfare threats during exercises. But, according to retired Gen. Mark Kelly, former commander of Air Combat Command, the Air Force later recognized its operational value, and it was developed into a de facto protection tool for aircraft on combat missions.
Since 2017, this system has been tested on several US Air Force platforms, as well as on US Navy aircraft and drones, with plans to expand it to refueling aircraft.
Analysts believe that the appearance of these incubators on board fighters heading east may indicate a possible practical testing phase in a real operational environment, reflecting a shift in the role of training systems to advanced combat capabilities.
