The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $520-million production contract for the foreign military sales Block 70/72 F-16 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite.
It modifies a previous contract, bringing the cumulative total to $897 million.
The contract modification will allow the contractor to begin construction work, with $177 million being allocated at the time of award.
Work will be carried out in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2028.
Beneficiaries are Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia, and Taiwan.
F-16 Viper Shield
The L3Harris AN/ALQ-254(V) electronic warfare suite provides a virtual electronic shield around combat jets, enabling warfighters to perform complex missions safely.
It comprises a digital radar warning receiver and a robust digital countermeasure system in an integrated, internally mounted system.
The receiver integrates seamlessly with the aircraft’s new APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar, providing greater situational awareness.
Upgraded Capability
Compared to its analog predecessor that could detect one threat at a time, the all-digital Viper Shield is capable of detecting and defeating multiple threats simultaneously, National Defense Magazine wrote, citing director of business development for electronic warfare at L3Harris Anna Gragossian.
Moreover, its open system architecture allows seamless integration of electronic warfare applications.