85th TES flies new F-16 electronic warfare suite — An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron taxies after flying with the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for the first time at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, last month. IVEWS is a self-protecting electronic warfare system on the F-16 that provides digital radar warnings and active jamming capability to detect, identify, locate and counter potential threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Rebecca Abordo)

The first flight of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet equipped with the new IVEWS electronic warfare system was recorded

Por

30 October, 2024

Set against the backdrop of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the first flight of a United States Air Force (USAF) F-16 fighter jet equipped with the new IVEWS electronic warfare system developed by Northrop Grumman has been recorded. This milestone is part of several efforts to enhance the Fighting Falcon’s capabilities and improve its survivability when operating in high-intensity environments.

Named the Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), the AN/ALQ-257 is an electronic warfare system developed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman for equipping the USAF’s F-16 fighter jets. Broadly speaking, it is an internal system integrated into the aircraft, enhancing survivability through digital alerts, thanks to its ability to detect, track, and disrupt potential enemy radars and systems.

Its development responded to USAF requirements for continuing to expand the capabilities of its F-16 fleet, encompassed within the Post-Block Improvement Integration Team (PoBIT), which included the integration of the new IVEWS system to work in conjunction with the new APG-83 SABR AESA radar, equipping the new Viper Block 70/72.

By 2023, Northrop Grumman announced that the new system had successfully passed laboratory tests under controlled conditions, paving the way for the start of flight testing with USAF aircraft. This step began to be taken when, in December of the same year, the U.S. company also confirmed the start of system integration work on an aircraft in the fleet.

https://twitter.com/airsuperiorx/status/1851378584340086792

According to a recent publication by the USAF’s 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, an F-16 aircraft equipped with IVEWS completed its first test flight last month. The aircraft was piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Graham, Director of F-16 Electronic Warfare Testing.

Following the successful completion of the first flight with this new system, Graham stated: “The success of this flight is a testament to the hard work of the entire team on this program.” He added, “Integrating a system at this level typically takes a long time, but thanks to the incredible people involved, we achieved this success quickly.”

Finally, although further details on the program’s next steps were not provided, it is worth noting that the USAF plans to equip a total of 450 F-16 fighters with the IVEWS electronic warfare system, an effort that complements the modernization of a similar number of Air National Guard aircraft, which will be upgraded to Block 70.