Two Edwards-based F-16s Spotted In Star Wars Canyon With Mysterious New Pod (or is it old)

As I noted in a previous thread, its a banner month for aviation spotters it seems. Two F-16 wearing Edwards ID's were photographed in Star Wars Canyon, with what appear to be new pods under their right wings. The streamlined pod with a black nosecone (radio opaque?) was opposate a AN/ALQ-167 pod.



The form was identified by Tyler Rogeway who produced a picture circa 1987 of a EA-7L with the pod. The EA-7L was used an a electronic warfare aggressor aircraft.



So they are either using an old pod to simulate older air forces like say the NK's
Its an old casing with new innards
Or its simply bait to get us talking.

theaviationist.com...

Radar countermeasures on non stealth craft remain the same. The jamming is necessary to prevent radar lock on.

With stealth you don't need walls of return noise, because you are invisible to radar.

So non stealthy aircraft need an edge to confuse trackers and seekers.

IOW, the war is already on and here we come.

The pod may look the same but the electronics in it may be all new.

NWC china lake uses old pods for a lot of early testing by swapping out the guts.

a reply to: FredT

It's a threat simulator. If they're flying on Edwards aircraft, they're either updated to test something, or they're building the threat database for the F-35 library.

Aaaahhh so its a "Hello I,m a Su57" pod