As Poland embarks on a significant upgrade of its F-16 fleet, two American companies are positioning their electronic warfare (EW) systems as part of the enhancement package.
While details regarding Warsaw’s specific upgrade requirements remain uncertain, the aim is to transition its aircraft from the Block 50 configuration to the more advanced Block 70. Northrop Grumman is proposing the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), while L3Harris is advocating for the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield.
Both companies shared their insights at the MSPO show, indicating that Poland plans to select a new EW package within the next six months. (Poland’s Ministry of Defense has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the upgrade.)
IVEWS, recognized as the US Air Force’s F-16 EW program of record, utilizes an ultra-wideband architecture engineered to detect, identify, and counter radio frequency threats. „It is four times more sensitive and provides four times the range compared to any previous systems used in fourth-generation aircraft,” noted Charles Blanks, Northrop Grumman’s fixed wing survivability manager. „This capability allows for the detection of new and future-generation threats that extend beyond the typical electronic spectrum of the past.” He emphasized the necessity of this system for fourth-generation fighters addressing near-peer threats, which Poland is acutely aware of given their proximity.
Significantly, IVEWS received formal clearance today to commence flight testing on US Air Force F-16s after undergoing three years of system-level and anechoic chamber testing at the Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Sensors (J-PRIMES) facility. Blanks highlighted that these tests, which included interference evaluations, led to IVEWS achieving a „98 percent success rate.”
On the other hand, James Ryan, director of business development at L3Harris, asserted that the Viper Shield system is the „most mature” option available. He pointed out that it is the only fully funded solution currently in production, eagerly anticipating Poland’s selection decision. The Viper Shield is an all-digital EW suite for the F-16, boasting „enhanced system performance, a smaller form factor, reduced weight, and simplified future upgrades,” according to company literature. Ryan confirmed that Viper Shield meets all technical specifications outlined by the Polish government and has been previously ordered through multiple export contracts.
While Poland continues to define the overall scope of its F-16 upgrades, reports from February indicate that an agreement with the US government is being prepared. Northrop’s Blanks mentioned that Warsaw had initially conducted evaluations of various EW systems but has since narrowed its options down to IVEWS and Viper Shield.
