Poland will buy a radio-electronic combat strategy (WRE) Viper Shield via the United States government. The strategy will be delivered by L3Harris Technologies. This action is part of a large program of modernization of all Polish F-16 fighters. Viper Shield will enable pilots to detect, track and combat threats faster and more effectively.
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– We are honored that Poland has chosen us to modernise its multitasking F-16 fighters – said Ed Zoiss, president of L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems, who present informed about cooperation with the Polish government. – Viper Shield, which is already being produced, will enable pilots to detect, track and combat rapidly changing threats faster and more effectively," Zoiss assured.
The intent of buying AN/ALQ-254 Viper Shield is to strengthen offensive and defensive capabilities of the current F-16 Block 52+ configuration. Viper Shield will supply the Polish Air Force with the same advanced WRE features available to another allies utilizing the fresh F-16 Block 70 variant. The American company supplies Viper Shield to the F-16 fleets of 7 countries, and besides talks with another US allies and partner states.
L3Harris offers a Viper Shield strategy in various installation variants, including an integrated version with Block 70/72 aircraft and a version to upgrade earlier F-16 configurations. Viper Shield is besides available in the form of a suspended tray. The strategy was designed as a software defined (SDN), so that its operation can be changed, configured or expanded through software.
Let us remind that on 13 August, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz signed a contract to modernise all 48 F-16 aircraft, which have served in the Polish armed forces for 20 years. Polish “Jastrzębie” version C/D Block 52+ will be upgraded to variant V Block 72 at Military Aviation Plant No. 2 in Bydgoszcz for 3.8 billion dollars. The investment was planned for 2030-2038.
