The U.S. Air Force-led flight test program on single-seat and two-seat F-16 models is critical for refining the system, ensuring it delivers cutting-edge EW capabilities to the global F-16 fleet that surpass legacy systems and competitor offerings.
"Our systematic testing strategy, which includes lab-based hardware and software assessments, dense radio frequency environment simulations, and comprehensive ground and flight validations, underscores the unmatched functionality and reliability of Viper Shield," said Travis Ruhl, Director of International Business Development, L3Harris. "With each test, Viper Shield proves its maturity and quality, reinforcing its position years ahead of the competition.”
L3Harris also recently delivered the first production candidate version of Viper Shield operational software for formal testing. This paves the way towards the final stages of testing and deployment, reaffirming our commitment to providing the most advanced EW capabilities to support warfighters’ safety and mission success.
Flight testing is the apex of proving Viper Shield’s reliability, robustness and ability to counter modern threats with precision. Each test is an opportunity to demonstrate its maturity and readiness for operational deployment, leverage software-defined capabilities to fine-tune the system, and eliminate potential issues.
L3Harris has proven the Viper Shield system’s performance and maturity through:
- Rapid Delivery: A substantial investment in state-of-the-art factory optimization, work center-based enhancements, and test automation, alongside a fully funded ongoing production line ensures Viper Shield is well-positioned to deliver modern EW capabilities and ensure warfighter survivability faster than our competitors.
- Advanced Capabilities: Our fully digital, software-defined architecture enables us to iterate and deliver the most advanced capabilities without changing our production hardware.
- Universal Fit: Viper Shield is fit for form and delivering capability in single-seat and two-seat F-16s.
- Superior Performance: Viper Shield significantly outperforms legacy EW systems by delivering substantial improvements in detection, jamming and survivability across both air-to-air and surface-to-air scenarios.
- Integrated Defense: Full aircraft systems integration allows pilots to focus on the mission while Viper Shield automatically delivers state-of-the-art defense against modern threats.
Throughout this extensive testing phase, a series of evaluations have been conducted to validate Viper Shield’s total integration in the F-16, from the mission computer and avionic subsystems to seamless interoperability with the APG-83 AESA radar.
Viper Shield’s design is tailored to counter modern radar threats with immediate detection and advanced jamming responses. It integrates across all F-16 blocks with minimal aircraft modifications and is configurable with both current and next-generation mission computers, reinforcing the system’s advanced engineering design.
Selected by seven nations for its unparalleled ability to deliver proven, advanced capabilities, Viper Shield is the EW system of choice for the global F-16 fleet.
