The U.S. Air Force is equipping frontline F-16s with Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), providing pilots enhanced protection against modern radar and missile threats. The system addresses urgent operational needs in the Middle East with a digital, integrated electronic warfare architecture.
Key Capabilities
IVEWS uses an ultra-wideband design to detect and classify emitters across the spectrum, including millimeter-wave fire-control radars. Its fast-processing radar warning receiver coordinates with adaptive countermeasures to disrupt incoming threats. Integrated with AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radars on modernized F-16s, IVEWS maintains tracking and situational awareness even under heavy jamming.
Operational Impact
IVEWS enhances F-16 survivability during air interdiction, close air support, and suppression of enemy air defenses. In the Middle East, where GPS denial, radar interference, and cruise missile threats are common, the suite gives pilots crucial seconds to evade or counter incoming fire. The program has been fast-tracked with 72 units approved and $187 million in additional funding to meet immediate operational demands.
Future Relevance
The system ensures fourth-generation F-16s remain combat-relevant into the 2030s while promoting a shared electronic warfare baseline among coalition partners. It enables rapid adaptation to evolving threats, improves pilot survivability, and reinforces coalition interoperability across contested airspaces.
