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New 'Viper Shield' electronic warfare system has first flight on a Bahraini F-16
February 5, 2025 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
The first flight of the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite was performed on an F-16C Block 70 of the Royal Bahraini Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base on Jan. 23, 2025.
The flight included a series of risk reduction tests related to the mission computer and other avionic subsystems compatibility, as well as interoperability with the APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar.
The Bahraini F-16C (RBAF n° 1601) was flown by a test pilot of the 416th Flight Test Squadron, Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield has been developed by L3Harris Technologies and Lockheed Martin. Its design is based on previous generations of electronic countermeasure technologies but incorporates an all-digital architecture.
It is internally mounted, integrates directly with the aircraft’s avionics suite and works alongside the APG-83 AESA radar. The system includes a digital radar warning receiver (DRWR) to detect and classify threats, providing real-time situational awareness to pilots. Unlike externally mounted electronic warfare pods, Viper Shield maintains the aircraft's aerodynamic profile and preserves external hardpoints for mission payloads.
The choice of a Bahraini jet is not casual, as two F-16s (a single seater and a twin seater) are at Edwards AFB and are being operated by the 412th Test Wing at Edwards for testing and evaluation work as part of the Foreign Military Sales process.
"The thing that we're most excited about is the advances in the EW capabilities that Viper Shield will bring to the F-16," said Maj. Anthony Pipe, the pilot assigned to the test flight. "One of the biggest advantages is going to be the ability of the RWR, or Radar Warning Receiver, to more accurately display, in a more accurate way and in a better human factors way, to the pilots the threats they may face."
L3Harris is already on contract to provide Viper Shield to “six international partners” for installation on 168 new F-16s, while additional retrofitting efforts are being explored for older aircraft. Among the F-16 Block 70s that will receive the system, according to FMS notifications, are Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia, Jordan and Taiwan. Greece is also acquiring Block 70s, but have not disclosed which EW suite they will use. Poland has received approval for a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) package for its fleet of 48 F-16C/D block 52+ aircraft, which may include either Viper Shield or an equivalent system.
The delivery of Viper Shield is expected to start in late 2025, entering service during the next year.
Follow F-16.net on Bluesky for more Viper news and updates.
The Viper Shield electronic warfare suite conducted its first flight on January 23rd, 2025 from Edwards AFB. [Lockheed Martin photo]
The Bahraini F-16C (RBAF n° 1601) was flown by a test pilot of the 416th Flight Test Squadron, Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield has been developed by L3Harris Technologies and Lockheed Martin. Its design is based on previous generations of electronic countermeasure technologies but incorporates an all-digital architecture.
It is internally mounted, integrates directly with the aircraft’s avionics suite and works alongside the APG-83 AESA radar. The system includes a digital radar warning receiver (DRWR) to detect and classify threats, providing real-time situational awareness to pilots. Unlike externally mounted electronic warfare pods, Viper Shield maintains the aircraft's aerodynamic profile and preserves external hardpoints for mission payloads.
The choice of a Bahraini jet is not casual, as two F-16s (a single seater and a twin seater) are at Edwards AFB and are being operated by the 412th Test Wing at Edwards for testing and evaluation work as part of the Foreign Military Sales process.
"The thing that we're most excited about is the advances in the EW capabilities that Viper Shield will bring to the F-16," said Maj. Anthony Pipe, the pilot assigned to the test flight. "One of the biggest advantages is going to be the ability of the RWR, or Radar Warning Receiver, to more accurately display, in a more accurate way and in a better human factors way, to the pilots the threats they may face."
L3Harris is already on contract to provide Viper Shield to “six international partners” for installation on 168 new F-16s, while additional retrofitting efforts are being explored for older aircraft. Among the F-16 Block 70s that will receive the system, according to FMS notifications, are Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia, Jordan and Taiwan. Greece is also acquiring Block 70s, but have not disclosed which EW suite they will use. Poland has received approval for a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) package for its fleet of 48 F-16C/D block 52+ aircraft, which may include either Viper Shield or an equivalent system.
The delivery of Viper Shield is expected to start in late 2025, entering service during the next year.
Follow F-16.net on Bluesky for more Viper news and updates.
Additional images:
The Viper Shield electronic warfare suite conducted its first flight on January 23rd, 2025 from Edwards AFB. [Lockheed Martin photo]
RBAF F-16C block 70 #1601 is about to touch down on the runway at Donaldson AB in June of 2023 after a testflight. [Photo by NTower]
Pre-flight checks are completed on Bahrain's F-16 block 70 #1601 single-seat fighter jet in preparation for its ferry flight from Greenville IAP to Bahrain on March 6th, 2024. [Lockheed Martin photo]
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