AirAmericas

L3Harris Viper Shield EW Tech Completes First Flight on F-16

L3Harris Technologies has completed the initial flight of its Viper Shield all-digital electronic warfare (EW) suite aboard an F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft in California.

Held at Edwards Air Force Base, the demonstration covered multiple risk reduction assessments on the capability’s mission computer and compatibility with the jet’s avionics subsystems.

It also tested the interoperability of the suite with the modern APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar specifically designed by industry partner Northrop Grumman to upgrade the F-16.

Viper Shield’s maiden flight was coordinated with the US Air Force’s 412th Test Wing, a unit dedicated to the evaluation of aircraft and related solutions for fielding, combat support, and training.

“This flight launches the latest capability enhancement for the F-16 and our warfighters,” US Air Force F-16 Experimental Test Pilot Maj. Anthony Pipe explained.

“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.”

Viper Shield EW Suite

L3Harris’ Viper Shield is a “low-risk, low-cost” countermeasure solution against modern radar threats.

The technology combines jamming response and rapid detection to immediately disrupt operations of the adversarial kill chain.

Viper Shield can be equipped on all F-16 configurations with minimal setup.

F-16 Block 70
Slovakia’s first F-16 Block 70 aircraft preparing for maiden flight. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Moreover, the EW suite can be linked with a plane’s existing mission modular computer and or the more advanced next-generation mission computer.

Viper Shield is installed in F-16 fleets with six international partners.

“Our building block approach to test hardware and software in labs, demonstrate functionality in dense radio frequency environments and validate the EW system on the ground prepared us for Viper Shield’s successful first flight,” L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems President Ed Zoiss commented on the recent test in California.

“With this milestone, we are ready to continue flight testing and deliver systems in late 2025 as Viper Shield is the only advanced EW solution that is funded and in active production for international F-16 partners.”

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