SEAD missions look like nonetheless a giant focus of Operation Epic Fury, with EA-18Gs proven flying with 4 AGM-88s and F-16s flying with blended AGM-88/JDAM hundreds.
New images launched by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) present U.S. fighter jets being launched for brand new missions over Iran. Notably, within the newest batch, belongings concerned within the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) are the main target.
The brand new images
Among the many plane proven, essentially the most fascinating is the EA-18G Growler. In actual fact, the jet is sporting a not often seen loadout with 4 AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, along with an AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS), two AIM-120C/D Superior Medium-Vary Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and two exterior gas tanks (EFT).
America’s navy capabilities and benefits are constructing. pic.twitter.com/TTnXVdmYqD
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 17, 2026
Notably, the AGM-88s are blended, as two are the older AGM-88C Excessive-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) variant and two are the newer AGM-88E Superior Antiradiation Guided Missile (AARGM) variant. The AARGM will be recognized by inexperienced stripes on the mid-body fins and a unique shade on the nostril cone.
There are additionally a number of different seen variations, essentially the most distinguished being the colour of the nostril cone. pic.twitter.com/K7jycJtXMj
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) December 24, 2025
The same configuration was seen in 2025 when the Growlers have been employed within the U.S. strikes in opposition to Houthi targets in Yemen. A extra regular payload for the EA-18G would see solely two AGM-88s and three AN/ALQ-99s, along with two EFTs and two AIM-120s.
Higher high quality. Appears like a blended loadout: two HARMs (mid-board wing stations) and two AARGMs (outboard wing stations). pic.twitter.com/YU46xn5Yup
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) March 17, 2026
The opposite SEAD asset proven is the F-16CM Preventing Falcon, which is supplied with a blended load together with an AGM-88C HARM and a GBU-31(V)3 Joint Direct Assault Munition (JDAM), the bunker busting variant of the two,000 lb guided bomb. The specialised loadout is accomplished by an Indignant Kitten digital warfare pod, along with the same old AN/ASQ-213 HARM focusing on system (HTS) pod, a Litening focusing on pod, three AIM-120s and one AIM-9X Sidewinder.
Indignant Kitten carrying SCANG Wild Weasels on Iran ops with a blended loadout of HARMs and GBU-31s fitted with BLU-109 penetrators, plus HTS pods and LITENING LAs. Three AIM-120C/Ds (up from the usual two), and one AIM-9X rounding it out. Few do multirole just like the Viper can. pic.twitter.com/RrH32aNKFL
— Abd (@blocksixtynine) March 17, 2026
In comparison with the Growler, the Wild Weasel F-16s seems to be a extra multirole loadout, in comparison with a typical SEAD mission. Beforehand, the F-16s have been additionally proven with a blended loadout which included an AGM-88C and a GBU-54 Laser JDAM, a loadout already used prior to now for of Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD) missions.
Wild Weasel heading into the fray with a blended loadout concurrently protecting Strike, SEAD, and A2A, with the HTS doubling as an ELINT sensor. Not unhealthy for a 30+ yrs previous airframe when you could have supposedly omni/swing platforms that also wrestle with this stage of mission overlap. pic.twitter.com/dkgDUI6sVK
— Abd (@blocksixtynine) March 8, 2026
An F-35A Lightning II can also be proven on this newest put up by CENTCOM, though it will probably’t instantly be linked to SEAD missions. In actual fact, whereas SEAD is likely one of the F-35’s main missions, it’s not the one and doesn’t use specialised tools carried externally.
An image from final week additionally exhibits one other fascinating loadout of the Growler. In actual fact, an EA-18G is proven launching from an plane service geared up with an AN/ALQ-99 TJS and a more moderen AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB (Subsequent-Era Jammer-Mid Band), along with three EFTs and two AIM-120s.
Is SEAD nonetheless wanted?
Operation Epic Fury is now in its third week for the reason that opening assault on Feb. 28, 2026. One might surprise why SEAD remains to be wanted, particularly after the U.S. officers claimed a number of occasions that the navy has utterly destroyed Iran’s defenses and achieved air superiority.
It have to be famous nevertheless, that strikes are hitting Iranian targets progressively farther from the coast, permitting belongings to extra safely transfer inland. Thus, there might be areas have been threats are nonetheless current and must be handled accordingly.
This might be additionally in keeping with a extra particular “localized air superiority” point out by CENTCOM, which might certainly indicate that some areas are nonetheless not totally beneath management. In flip, this might additionally presumably clarify why B-52H Stratofortress bombers proceed to make use of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile (JASSM). With this weapon, which has additionally been used within the opening phases by the B-1B Lancer, the bombers can conduct their strikes whereas remaining out of the menace’s vary.
Anyway, what will be thought of for sure is that the surface-to-air menace is just not but totally eradicated. For example, video launched by CENTCOM on Mar. 15 and 16 present MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missile launchers being destroyed, in addition to a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft autocannon.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Iran possessed a extremely dense and layered air protection networks, whose menace was not underestimated by the U.S. navy. Whereas the nation has been traditionally reliant on Soviet-era programs, it began more and more integrating indigenous programs which apparently emphasised mobility and digital warfare capabilities.
