L3Harris Technologies has completed testing on its latest Viper Shield Electronic Warfare (EW) system, which enhances protection for F-16 pilots, at the U.S. Air Force’s Integrated Defensive Avionics Laboratory.
The hardware and software testing, known as Drop 4, was on the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield suite, which identified and displayed threats of interest and sorted through them in challenging backgrounds to provide precise situational awareness.
“Viper Shield demonstrated radar warning receiver functionality in dense background radio frequency environments, and successfully detected, identified, sorted and cued multiple threats,” said Air Force Col. Michael Rigoni, EW Program Manager, F-16 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The colonel attended the test and added that “completion of Drop 4 testing provides program risk reduction and marks an important level of system maturity.”
The Viper Shield Drop 4 capability uses production representative hardware and integrates fully with all F-16 systems. Drop 4 also ensures that the pilot has enhanced protection against threats through improved pilot-vehicle interface with the Countermeasures Dispensing System, which can release chaff and flares from the aircraft.
“Viper Shield is a virtual electronic armor that will improve the ability of F-16 fighter pilots to detect threats earlier so they can defend themselves and utilize that data to increase their survivability,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We will continue to refine and advance this system for warfighters globally.”
L3Harris designed Viper Shield as the baseline EW system for the global F-16 Block 70/72 fleet and can enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities. The system has proven its performance with other important milestones, including seamless integration with the onboard APG-83 AESA radar. L3Harris can also install Viper Shield onto legacy F-16 configurations inside the aircraft or in fully integrated pod configurations utilizing the existing Line Replaceable Units mounted externally.
