An article by Edwards Air Force Base on the Reconfigurable Airborne Sensor, Communication and Laser (RASCAL) airborne pod – a modified SUU-20 practice bomb dispenser & rocket launcher.
According to Dan Carroll, program manager for the RASCAL pod, the pod allows researchers to quickly test flight test hardware without the need to take the aircraft offline for modifications.
Conceived in 2006, EASCAL was envisioned to fly on Edwards F-15s and T-38Bs, but for now, the F-16 is the only sole USAF platform that carries it. All three pods are now being cleared for carriage on the T-38C after the jets had their centerline hard-point upgrade.