The AN/ALQ-254 Viper Defend might be put in throughout the improve of the fleet of 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ jets to the F-16V Block 72 commonplace.
L3Harris Applied sciences has introduced on Aug. 28, 2025, that Poland chosen the AN/ALQ-254 Viper Defend digital warfare (EW) suite to equip its F-16s as a part of the Mid-Life Improve. The main points concerning the acquisitions haven’t been disclosed, though the corporate stated the system might be procured via the U.S. authorities.
“We’re honored Poland chosen us to improve their F-16V multirole fighters,” stated Ed Zoiss, President, Area and Airborne Programs, L3Harris. “Viper Defend is in manufacturing and can allow pilots to determine, find and counter quickly evolving threats sooner with enhanced success.”
The superior, all-digital EW system will present a digital digital defend across the plane, enabling warfighters to finish missions safely in more and more complicated battlespace eventualities, says L3Harris. Viper Defend can be being examined aboard an F-16C Block 70 of the Royal Bahraini Air Pressure at Edwards Air Pressure Base, California.
Viper Defend
L3Harris says it developed the brand new AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Defend in partnership with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Pressure to supply U.S. allies with “cutting-edge countermeasures towards refined, ever-changing threats.” The corporate says that the system, composed of six line-replaceable models (LRUs) and a cockpit show, relies on an all-digital structure which makes use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) expertise for enhanced system efficiency, a smaller kind issue, diminished weight and simpler future upgrades.
Viper Defend’s digital radar warning receiver (DRWR) expertise integrates seamlessly with the plane’s new APG-83 lively electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, says the product’s web page, to ship better situational consciousness. The system additionally features a digital radio frequency reminiscence (DRFM)-based jamming system, which offers enhanced functionality towards superior threats.
The producer says it designed Viper Defend with fewer important parts than earlier era EW programs not solely to acquire a smaller kind issue and diminished weight, but additionally a better imply time between failure and decrease lifecycle prices. The modular design, which helps swapping LRUs within the discipline, along with the COTS expertise and software-defined structure, permits to simplify future upgrades as expertise and threats evolve.
The objective is to supply a digital digital defend across the plane, with state-of-the-art functionality, to handle rising and future threats with a completely built-in, internally mounted system. This eliminates the necessity to make use of exterior EW pods normally put in on the centerline station, releasing it for different payloads such an exterior gas tank.
L3Harris stated in January 2025 it’s already on contract to supply Viper Defend to “six worldwide companions” for set up on 168 new F-16s. Among the many F-16 Block 70s that can obtain the system, in accordance with International Army Gross sales (FMS) notifications, are Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia, and Taiwan.
Greece and Jordan are additionally buying Block 70s, however haven’t disclosed which EW suite they may use. Earlier than the choice by Poland, Viper Defend has additionally been included within the FMS notification of the potential sale of F-16s Block 70/72 to the Philippines. The supply of Viper Defend is anticipated to begin in late 2025, coming into service throughout the subsequent 12 months.
Polish F-16 MLU
In August 2025, Poland signed a deal price $3.8 billion for the Mid Life Improve of the Polish Air Pressure’s F-16 fleet. As a part of the deal, all 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ jets at present in service might be upgraded to the F-16V Block 72 commonplace.
The Polish F-16s had been delivered between 2006 and 2008, and are thought of to be among the many most succesful F-16s in Europe. The plane might be modernized on the Army Aviation Works No. 2 in Bydgoszcz, within the northwest of the nation, with a optimistic affect on the Polish protection trade and financial system.
In October 2024, the U.S. State Division accepted the International Army Sale (FMS) to Poland of the F-16 Viper Midlife Improve and associated components of logistics and program help for an estimated value, at the moment, of $7.30 billion, in accordance with the Protection Safety Cooperation Company discover.
Among the many new programs which might be put in throughout the improve we are able to discover the APG-83 AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar, the AN/ALQ-254V(1) Viper Defend superior digital warfare (EW) suite, the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS II), Phased Array Warning System (PAWS-2) infrared missile warning system and the brand new Martin-Baker US18E ejection seat. Moreover, work might be accomplished to increase the service life to 12,000 flight hours.
Work on the weapon capabilities seems to be additionally included, because the package deal options AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Floor Standoff Missile (JASSM) Flight Take a look at Automobiles, GBU53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) Guided Take a look at Automobiles, GBU-39(T-1)/B Guided Take a look at Automobiles and AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Particular and Captive Air Coaching Missiles, in addition to MS-110 reconnaissance pods.
The precise point out of the GBU-39 and GBU-53 is notable, as neither is at present in service in Poland. Whereas there’s an FMS discover for as much as 1,400 GBU-39s for Poland, launched in Might 2025, there usually are not particulars concerning the GBU-53 acquisition.
With your entire fleet being upgraded to the Block 72 Viper configuration, the Polish F-16s could have an excellent increase of their capabilities. This may also permit them to raised complement the F-35A Husarz that the Polish Air Pressure is at present introducing.
