Peru only recently concluded contract for first F-16 Block 70 fighter batch, and now it became known their new aircraft will also receive modern electronic warfare system — this involves Viper Shield from L3Harris Technologies, already chosen by Peruvian government for supply for their future aircraft. This system should positively impact fighter survivability.
Pucara publication reports this. As Communications & Spectrum Dominance division president Christopher Aebli emphasized, currently eight countries already chose Viper Shield system, while production is scaling to 233 systems (likely involving total ordered quantity).
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AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield system is super EW for F-16 fighters, serial production started last year. It is designed both for installation on newest F-16 Block 70/72 variants and on older modifications using suspended pod.
Company emphasizes fully digital Viper Shield EW system was developed considering that in future F-16 on battlefield will encounter range of new threats that previously could not be imagined. System was developed jointly with Lockheed Martin and U.S. Air Force.
Viper Shield creates virtual electronic shield around aircraft for countering enemy radars, missile guidance systems and so on. Since system was developed with fewer components than previous-generation EW systems, this affected both reducing its mass and dimensions and increasing mean time between failures.
Recall this April Peru finally ordered F-16 fighters for its air forces, which beat Swedish Gripen — this was scandalous procurement in political chaos, with minister resignations and impeachment threat, and also quite long-awaited, as candidate selection process began 14 years ago in 2012.
Aircraft cost country quite expensively — first batch of 12 machines will cost as much as $2 billion. Provided another 12 fighters are purchased, second batch cost will decrease to $1.5 billion — overall $3.5 billion for 24 F-16 fighters.
Earlier in August Peru already officially reported actively working on second batch procurement — quantity of 24 F-16 aircraft was recognized as minimum necessary need for their military, at same time Peru defense ministry already submitted deferral for contract conclusion due to insufficient funds for financing quite large-scale procurement.
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