Viper Shield successfully completed a rigorous Production Readiness Review (PRR), marking its transition into low-rate initial production to provide the most advanced electronic warfare (EW) suite to the global F-16 fleet years ahead of any competing system. While other companies may make claims about their developmental systems, L3Harris’ Viper Shield stands out as the only advanced EW system for the F-16 that is currently in production and ready to meet the 2027 challenge.
“Protecting allies in electromagnetic spectrum environments is critical to maintaining global security and stability," said Michael Rigoni, Air Force Colonel and Electronic Warfare Program Manager, F-16 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "L3Harris' success in this PRR moves Viper Shield into low-rate initial production with full rate expected in Q1 ’26 and demonstrates its commitment to providing global F-16 fighter pilots a high-quality electronic warfare suite to meet those challenges.”
Viper Shield is the only advanced EW suite for the F-16 that is fully funded through partner nation development, currently in production, and offers a versatile Pod variant. This combination enhances its versatility and affordability, making it the most sophisticated and efficient solution for the global F-16 fleet.
“Viper Shield is an internationally backed system, supported by seven allied nations currently in production with a new Pod customer expected soon. These advancements make it the premier choice for all countries operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. "Even the United States, both active duty and Guard units, could greatly benefit from this FMS-funded program."
The PRR is a comprehensive evaluation process that examines multiple facets of a program, such as design integrity, manufacturing processes, quality assurance protocols and supply chain logistics. The review is especially important for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs, where international customers rely on high-quality standards and thorough system validation.
Through the process, Viper Shield demonstrated its readiness to transition from initial production to the low-rate initial production of 219 systems for seven partner nations. Additional partner nations that select Viper Shield will benefit from an active production line with robust quality assurance measures and a resilient supply chain capable of meeting the demands of large-scale manufacturing.
In addition to passing the PRR, Viper Shield continues to undergo extensive testing and validation to ensure it performs effectively in extreme operational environments and conditions. This is vital for enhancing the operational capabilities of F-16 fleets, providing customers with advanced protection and resilience. The emphasis on hardware reliability and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL) has allowed L3Harris to scale up production to meet the growing demand.
The deployment of Viper Shield will significantly enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of international partners and could support the United States through an FMS-funded program, if desired, as it offers a robust electronic warfare solution that can be tailored to specific mission needs.
