Apr 2, 2025 - Technology

F-16s with souped-up electronic warfare will fly in 2026

Colin Demarest

An F-16 sits on the tarmac during sunset. The sky above is almost purple in color. — An F-16 Block 70 was used for Viper Shield's first flight. Photo: Todd Schannuth/DVIDS

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.

Production kicked off last year.
Customers include Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia and Taiwan.

"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.

"There's a cost savings, if you will," Ruhl said. "You don't have to buy one for every airplane."

Go deeper: U.S. military testing Angry Kitten jammer on A-10 and C-130

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F-16s with souped-up electronic warfare will fly in 2026

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