L3Harris Unveils Groundbreaking Milestone for Viper Shield Electronic Warfare System
L3Harris Technologies revealed today achieving a pivotal design evaluation (PDE) milestone for the Viper Shield electronic warfare (EW) system, which will enhance both offensive and defensive EW functionalities for F-16 Block 70/72 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) jets.
The AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield successfully accomplished a PDE milestone with partner Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force in attendance. Crafted as the fundamental EW system on the latest F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft, this system will deliver a virtual electronic barrier that boosts aircraft defense through a multi-faceted digital radio frequency, memory-based jamming mechanism.
“Viper Shield stands as the peak-performance, most reliable EW solution for F-16 Vipers in an ever-threatening environment,” stated Ed Zoiss, President of Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris. “Being the sole EW system for these aircraft to have attained this PDE milestone, we are one step closer to aiding our global clientele in spotting and neutralizing modern sophisticated threats.”
In late 2022, Viper Shield successfully showcased its compatibility with the new APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar during trials at the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration Lab. Entirely integrated and internally mounted, it presents an open-systems framework utilizing commercially available technology for simplified future enhancements and reduced lifecycle expenses.
L3Harris eliminated the necessity for U.S. government funding to advance the Viper Shield EW system for the F-16 Block 70/72 FMS jets by harnessing internal research and development resources along with international partnerships.
With the upcoming pivotal milestone approaching in the second quarter of 2023, Viper Shield will re-enter the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration Lab equipped with newly integrated hardware and software to showcase complete integration of the next slated set of capabilities with the F-16 Block 70/72 FMS jets.
