02-04-2025
F-16s with souped-up electronic warfare will fly in 2026
Foreign F-16s will be flying with upgraded electronic warfare packages as soon as next year, according to L3Harris Technologies.
Why it matters: The Viper Shield countermeasures are "digital armor" for the warplanes, Travis Ruhl, a director of international business development and former pilot, said in an interview.
The consequences of electronic warfare are underscored daily in Ukraine, where digital harassment harries surveillance and precision strikes.
Catch up quick: Viper Shield flew for the first time in January, aboard a Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16 Block 70 at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
"Getting to the point where something's exportable is a challenge, because EW is a special space," said Ruhl. "The United States government protects that technology in a way that makes it extraordinarily difficult."
What's next: Stateside customers are interested in a podded version of Viper Shield, to be slung under aircraft.
