L3Harris Viper Shield EW Suite Completes Successful Maiden Flight on F-16 Fighter Jet

L3Harris Technologies has achieved a significant milestone with the inaugural flight of its Viper Shield AN/ALQ-254(V)1 all-digital electronic warfare (EW) suite aboard an F-16 Fighting Falcon. This event took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, marking a pivotal advancement in modernizing the F-16's defensive and offensive capabilities.

Key Highlights of the Viper Shield EW Suite:

• Advanced Threat Detection and Countermeasures: Viper Shield employs a software-defined architecture that enables rapid identification and jamming of enemy radar systems. This capability creates a virtual electronic shield around the aircraft, enhancing pilot survivability in contested environments.

• Seamless Integration with F-16 Systems: Designed to be fully compatible with the F-16's existing avionics, Viper Shield integrates with the aircraft's mission computer and the APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. This integration ensures cohesive operation without necessitating extensive modifications to the airframe.

• Compact and Lightweight Design: Utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, Viper Shield boasts a modern, all-digital architecture that results in a smaller form factor and reduced weight. This design approach not only enhances system performance but also simplifies future upgrades.

• Global Adoption and Production: The Viper Shield system is currently in production, with 168 units on order for deployment across F-16 fleets in six countries. This widespread adoption underscores the system's advanced capabilities and the trust placed in it by international partners.

The successful maiden flight involved comprehensive risk reduction assessments, including evaluations of the mission computer's performance and the suite's compatibility with the F-16's avionics subsystems. Additionally, the interoperability between Viper Shield and the APG-83 AESA radar was thoroughly tested, confirming the system's readiness for operational deployment.

Ed Zoiss, President of Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, "This flight launches the latest capability enhancement for the F-16 and our warfighters. The Viper Shield system combined with a Block 70 airframe creates a leap in capability compared to the traditional Block 50 Viper I grew up flying. The EW advancements this system brings will ensure pilots flying these aircraft continue to make it home."

As modern warfare evolves, the integration of advanced electronic warfare systems like Viper Shield is crucial for maintaining air superiority and ensuring the safety of pilots in increasingly complex threat environments. The successful first flight of Viper Shield marks a significant step forward in equipping the F-16 Fighting Falcon with cutting-edge defensive and offensive electronic capabilities.