TSAMTO, August 20th. L3Harris Technologies has announced the selection by the Government of Peru of the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield electronic warfare system to equip the F-16 Block.70 fighter jets acquired by the Peruvian Air Force.
According to a statement from the L3Harris press service on August 18, Peru became the eighth country to choose the Viper Shield as a full-time electronic warfare system for the F-16 family of fighters, while the company's production line is reaching the pace of full-scale serial production in the amount of 233 sets.
The Viper Shield complex is designed to provide electronic fighter protection against enemy radar detection and guidance systems, including air defense systems and air-to-air weapons with radar guidance.
The Viper Shield complex was developed by L3Harris Technologies in collaboration with Lockheed Martin (the lead contractor for the F-16 Block program.70) and the United States Air Force. The architecture of the complex is based on the principle of a software-defined digital system, which makes it possible to modernize the software as the nature of threats changes without replacing the hardware.
The functional composition of the Viper Shield includes a digital radiation warning receiver designed to detect, classify and identify enemy radar emissions, as well as an electronic suppression subsystem that provides interference to target tracking radar stations and guidance paths of anti-aircraft missile systems and air-to-air missiles. The complex also uses digital radio frequency signal memory (DRFM) technology, which allows recording, reproducing and modifying received radar signals in order to form false targets and suppress tracking systems.
The Viper Shield complex is offered in several installation options: integrated installation on board Block.70/72 fighter aircraft, a kit for retrofitting early F-16 fighter aircraft, as well as a container version.
The choice of the Viper Shield complex of the Peruvian Air Force was made as part of the implementation of the program for the acquisition of F-16 Block fighters.70, approved by the U.S. Department of State through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The notice of the possible sale was sent by the Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to the U.S. Congress on September 15, 2025. The maximum value of the package is estimated at $3.42 billion.
The initial contract, signed on April 20, 2026, provides for the supply of 12 fighters (10 single-seat F-16C and two two-seat F-16D), while the cost of the contract for the purchase of aircraft from Lockheed Martin is $ 1.54 billion. The Peruvian Air Force is also considering the possibility of further expanding the fleet to 24 fighter jets.
Delivery of F-16 Block fighters.The Viper Shield aircraft is to replace the fleet of MiG-29 and Mirage-2000 fighters operated by the Peruvian Air Force, and new aircraft are expected to be commissioned in 2029. The selection was preceded by a competitive process in which the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen E/F fighter and the French Rafale were considered as alternative platforms.
