This week, the Taiwan government announced plans to invest over USD 1.3 billion from covert allocations to equip its Air Force’s F-16V fighters with new electronic warfare systems known as “Viper Shield.” The acquisition plan, which also includes the purchase of munitions and auxiliary systems, is scheduled to be completed between 2022 and 2028.
It is worth noting that the Taiwan Air Force completed the modernization of 139 F-16A/B fighters to the Viper standard in 2023, integrating the new MS-110 multispectral imaging system and AN/AAQ-33 sniper pods. The upcoming installation of the Viper Shield, manufactured by L3Harris and technically referred to as the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 All-Digital Electronic Warfare Suite, is expected to further enhance the fighters’ survivability in modern combat environments.
According to the manufacturer, the system provides a “virtual electronic shield” for the F-16Vs that carry it, and has been selected by various users around the world. Examples include the Air Forces of Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Slovakia. Additionally, L3Harris has presented its product to the Air Forces of Turkey and Poland, which are also in the process of selecting similar systems to upgrade their fighters.
Among its known features, the Viper Shield system has a compact design compared to previous versions, using fewer critical components, thus reducing weight and maintenance costs. Its main capability is the interference system based on Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM), which can disrupt and neutralize nearby threats.
The system also includes COTS 3U technology and features a modular architecture (LRU), which would facilitate future upgrades and reduce associated costs. Moreover, the Viper Shield can be easily integrated with the APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars that equip Lockheed Martin’s fighters, significantly enhancing pilot situational awareness.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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