A single-seat F-16 Blk. 70 equipped with the L3Harris Viper Shield at operated by the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB.
ABU DHABI—L3Harris is in opening discussions about providing a podded version of its ALQ-254 Viper Shield electronic warfare system that is now in flight testing for use on Lockheed Martin F-16 Blk. 70/72s.
The podded configuration could be used by some older, early-model F-16s that cannot accommodate the ALQ-254 as an integrated system, said Travis Ruhl, director of International Viper Shield Business Development for the company, at IDEX 2025 here in Abu Dhabi. L3Harris is using the ALQ-211’s pod, which is already integrated on the F-16.
L3Harris earlier this month announced it had kicked off the flight-test campaign, with first deliveries to Lockheed Martin due before year-end for installation in 2026 ahead of customer deliveries. The flight-test program is expected to run about a year and involve 30-40 flights.
The company has designed the system specifically to work with the modern F-16’s APG-83 active electronically scanned array to enable the radar and jammer to operate at the same time without disrupting each other.
The six existing customers have ordered 168 systems, with the company ramping up production to eight systems per month.
Northrop Grumman competes in the market with the ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, selected by Turkey pending the finalization of a proposed F-16 sale.
Ruhl says L3Harris is working on upgrades of the system, such as giving it millimeter wave threat detection capability.
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