L3Harris Technologies today announced receiving an undefinitised contract from Lockheed Martin to procure long-lead material for the Viper Shield electronic warfare system to accelerate global product delivery.

The AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield supports the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft production for the global F-16 fleet and was designed as the baseline EW system for the aircraft. This contract, in conjunction with a future full-rate contract award for Viper Shield ship sets, will enable planned production EW capability deliveries for customers worldwide.

“Viper Shield protects next-generation F-16 fighters from previously unimaginable threats by providing a radio frequency shield, a warning receiver and jamming system, around the aircraft,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “This contract puts us one step closer to equipping our global customers with the most advanced EW system to safely complete missions in increasingly complex battlespace scenarios.”

In late 2022, Viper Shield successfully completed the critical design review milestone with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force. Viper Shield also demonstrated interoperability with the new APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar during testing at the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration Lab.

The Viper Shield program remains on schedule and slated for installation on the next-generation F-16 aircraft for multiple international air defense forces. Viper Shield will return to the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration Lab later this year with newly integrated hardware and software to test the next planned increment of capabilities with the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft.