On April 3, 2026, the U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service published a photograph taken on March 29 showing a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon launching for a combat sortie during Operation Epic Fury from an undisclosed location. Far from being a routine takeoff image, the photograph is notable because it appears to capture a deliberately configured combat loadout that blends standoff strike, electronic warfare, self-escort, and extended reach in a single Viper package. That makes the image especially relevant at a moment when Army Recognition had already reported the movement of Angry Kitten-equipped F-16CJ Vipers toward the Middle East amid tensions involving Iran. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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| A newly released Operation Epic Fury image appears to show a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon configured with AGM-158 JASSM missiles and an Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod, indicating a self-escorting standoff strike role in a contested air-defense environment near Iran (Picture Source: U.S. Air Force) |