Lengthy-range JASSM strikes nonetheless proceed on Iranian targets, significantly towards missile and drone manufacturing services.
U.S. Air Pressure F-16s presently deployed in help of Operation Epic Fury have been proven in official pictures carrying the AGM-158 Joint-Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile (JASSM) whereas departing for missions over Iran. The photographs, captured on Mar. 29, 2026, have been uploaded on the DVIDS community on Apr. 4.
The photographs confirmed two F-16CM Block 52s from the South Carolina Air Nationwide Guard’s (SCANG) 169th Fighter Wing, as recognized by the “South Carolina” and “Swamp Foxes” markings emblazoned on their vertical stabilizers. The plane have been flying with two AGM-158s JASSMs, one on every wing.
Moreover, the payload included two AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile, two AIM-120 Superior Medium Vary Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), an Indignant Kitten Digital Warfare (EW) pod on the centerline, a Litening focusing on pod, and Excessive-speed Anti-Radiation Missile Concentrating on System (HTS) pod.
SCANG Wild Weasels lugging JASSMs and Indignant Kittens in help of Epic Fury. As soon as once more circling again to simply how quintessentially multirole the F-16 is. One of the best to ever do it. Much more ridiculous {that a} fighter can look this good carrying a lot harm on any given day. pic.twitter.com/VUetBzRLxx
— Abd (@blocksixtynine) April 4, 2026
Apparently, the Indignant Kitten pod made its fight debut on this struggle. The system was first noticed on the SCANG’s F-16s in photographs that emerged on Feb. 19, whereas the jets have been transiting Lajes Airport in Portugal on their method to the CENTCOM’s AOR.
We then reported concerning the Indignant Kitten pod showing in an precise fight, when a picture confirmed an F-16s carrying the system along with a blended load of 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.
This was a change from the opening days of the struggle, when the F-16s have been flying with a HARM-only loadout. One other attention-grabbing payload has been seen on F-16CM Block 40s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, carrying 4 cluster bombs.
Aviano Vipers supporting Iran Ops loaded with 4x CBU/SFWs every. Once more, this could possibly be the CBU-89/B GATOR if not a special sensor fuzed variant. pic.twitter.com/sKo6L6g6b9
— Abd (@blocksixtynine) April 3, 2026
JASSMs on F-16s
As will be seen, all of the munitions on the F-16s are dwell, going by the yellow bands on them. The combination of long-range surface-strike, air-to-air loadouts and electro-magnetic sensing pods, just like the HTS and the Indignant Kitten, suggests the F-16s are primarily flying standoff land-strike missions, whereas being ready for air-to-air engagements.
Simply seen that every one 12 SCANG Block 52 Vipers transiting LPLA have been carrying Indignant Kitten EA/EW pods en path to the Center East. Pretty noteworthy for lots of causes. Can’t ever recall seeing EKs on jets probably heading into ops, doubtless the primary occasion? 📸 Kurt Mendonça pic.twitter.com/JQWZlCN31A
— Abd (@blocksixtynine) February 19, 2026
These ‘swing-role’ loadouts, permitting an plane to modify between anti-land and anti-air mission units both as pre-planned mission goal or unplanned tasking, have been a typical sight even amongst multirole plane. It’s unclear whether or not the shut makes an attempt on the F-35 and the F/A-18 Tremendous Hornet prompted a swap to stand-off strikes as an alternative of the comparatively riskier stand-in assaults below localized air superiority.
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
AGM-158 JASSMs have been initially noticed on B-52s in night-time visuals earlier in March, adopted by the visuals from RAF Fairford and CENTCOM’s pictures later within the month. The stays of crashed JASSMs have been additionally discovered early in March and April, though the causes are unclear.
One other wreckage of AGM-158 JASSM in Markazi Province, Iran pic.twitter.com/WVYYknih0Q
— 🕳️ (@Flanker30MKI) April 4, 2026
Use in Iran
Whereas standoff strikes require pre-planning with heavy reconnaissance and imagery evaluation, leaving little scope for dynamic focusing on, they’re safer since they maintain the plane out of hurt’s approach from enemy missiles. Stand-in strikes in the meantime are riskier, given the small window and being nearer to defended airspaces, however enable hitting targets of alternative.
In case you needed a better have a look at the 12 AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile) on wing pylons of the B-52 departing RAF Fairford on Mar. 20, right here it’s, courtesy of our pal and contributor @TallGlenn85
Extra particulars right here: pic.twitter.com/n3zvigAwGu
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) March 21, 2026
Current battlefield developments counsel the U.S. might need modified focusing on priorities. Stories say solely half of Iran’s missile functionality has been destroyed.
An E-3 Sentry AWACS was additionally misplaced at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, reportedly to an Iranian Shahed-136 One-Method Assault (OWA) drone. Thus, the U.S. would possibly wish to hit Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing facilities from a distance.
At the very least 6 AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile) in addition to a Sniper pod will be see on wing pylons of the B-52 within the CENTCOM submit. pic.twitter.com/LFRrY9iV49
— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) March 24, 2026
The HTS pod, whereas it’s primarily meant for the focusing on of the AGM-88 HARM missiles, will also be used to detect hostile floor radars, just like the Iranian Sevom Khordad, Raad, the extra subtle Bavar-373, and the Russian S-300 and Chinese language HQ-9Bs. Sources declare Iran has used its unconventional Product 358 anti-aircraft loitering drone to focus on U.S. plane.
🚨🇮🇷 Iran’s Bavar-373 air defence system seems GREAT! pic.twitter.com/bGuv82HmFE
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) February 5, 2025
The small, concealment-friendly design that may be mounted on indistinguishable civilian autos, utilizing optical seekers as an alternative of radio frequency-emitting techniques, permits conducting ‘pop-out’ assaults, giving little time for a goal jet’s onboard radar and missile warning sensors to react. The video of the try on the F-35 confirmed the plane flying in degree flight, with the missile all of a sudden almost hanging it, forcing it to make an emergency touchdown at a pleasant base.
C’est ton second, missile 358 ! pic.twitter.com/TCpojwahgQ
— كريم (@KarimBecc) April 4, 2026
This implies that the pilot was unaware {that a} missile was heading in the direction of him, who would have in any other case taken evasive maneuvers, releasing flares/chaff. The infrared seeker on the Product 358 additionally has limitations when it comes to guaranteeing successful, and Iran would possibly simply out of desperation take an opportunity through the use of its standard air protection platforms to additional deter standoff strikes.
