CLIFTON, N.J., — L3Harris Technologies has completed production of the first 35 Viper Shield electronic warfare and countermeasure systems for the global F-16 fleet, marking the transition toward full-rate production of the system.
Officially designated AN/ALQ-254(V)1, Viper Shield is designed to detect, identify and counter electronic threats. The system can provide protection against radar-based threats by detecting hostile radar signals and using electronic countermeasures to disrupt or confuse them. L3Harris describes the capability as a form of “digital armor” around the aircraft.
Designed for F-16 Block 70/72
L3Harris developed Viper Shield in partnership with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force. The system was selected in 2021 for the F-16 Block 70/72, the latest production version of the F-16. It is designed to operate with the aircraft's APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and is also compatible with earlier F-16 blocks.
Viper Shield uses an all-digital, software-defined architecture based on commercial off-the-shelf technology. According to L3Harris, this design provides a smaller form factor and reduced weight while making future software upgrades easier compared with older electronic warfare systems.
The system combines a digital radar warning receiver with electronic jamming capabilities, including digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) technology. This allows the system to respond to detected radar signals as part of its electronic countermeasure function.
233 Systems Ordered by Eight Nations
L3Harris said eight allied nations have ordered a total of 233 Viper Shield systems and that the company is increasing production to meet the existing orders. Confirmed customers include Bahrain, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Morocco, Taiwan, Poland and Peru. The eighth customer has not been publicly identified by the company.
Peru selected Viper Shield in August 2026 for its F-16 Block 70 program. The country plans to acquire 12 F-16 Block 70 aircraft, which are intended to replace its older Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 fighters.
Poland is also using Viper Shield for its existing F-16 fleet, while the system is available for both new-build Block 70/72 aircraft and upgrades to earlier F-16 variants.
Internal System and External Pod
Viper Shield can be installed directly inside the aircraft or carried as an external pod. L3Harris has completed the first external pod using its production systems, in addition to the first 35 internal systems. The company says the two configurations use the same core hardware.
The external option provides an installation alternative for F-16 aircraft that are not configured for an internal Viper Shield installation.
International Investment Has Funded Development
According to L3Harris, the participating countries have made a shared investment of about $1 billion in the program. The funding has covered development, laboratory testing, flight testing and the beginning of production.
Chris Aebli, president of Communications & Spectrum Dominance at L3Harris, said the investment could provide an opportunity for the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard to join the program without bearing the initial development and testing costs.
L3Harris is also discussing potential additional orders with other countries. The company has said these discussions could generate approximately $1.5 billion in additional demand.
Flight Testing Completed Ahead of Production Ramp-Up
Viper Shield has undergone flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, including testing involving F-16C and F-16D aircraft. In August 2026, L3Harris reported two-ship flight testing to evaluate the system's ability to detect, identify and counter electromagnetic threats while operating with the aircraft's avionics.
With the first 35 systems now completed and the first production-standard external pod assembled, L3Harris is ramping up manufacturing to meet the current 233-system backlog. The company says the existing production line, quality processes and supply chain are positioned to support additional international customers.
Production of Viper Shield is being carried out at L3Harris facilities in Clifton, New Jersey.
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