Show Debut for L3Harris’ Viper Shield Pod EW System

Interview with Travis “Posum” Ruhl, Director, International Business Development, Viper Shield Lead and EW SME, Space & Airborne Systems at L3 Harris.

L3Harris Technologies has a longstanding presence in South Korea and is showcasing its new Viper Shield Pod variant for the first time at the ongoing Seoul ADEX.  The Viper Shield Pod Electronic Warfare (EW) system is being proposed by L3 Harris for KF-16s operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

Edited Excerpts from the Interview

Can you talk to us about your presence at Seoul ADEX?

Absolutely. There’s a broad set of capabilities coming from L3Harris at this show. I’ll start with Viper Shield, which is a potential EW system for the KF-16. What’s new is that this pod is an extension of the Viper Shield EW system. Seven U.S. partner nations, most recently Poland, have selected Viper Shield for the suite’s advanced EW capabilities and ease of upgrade.

The Viper Shield is the baseline EW system for Lockheed Martin Block 70 F-16s. We feel the pod is a great opportunity for the ROKAF because it is low risk. It shares Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and production assets with the Viper Shield internal EW system currently in production. We hope the next customer will be the ROKAF, following closely behind another ongoing pod program.

In addition, we’re excited about our Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capabilities. L3Harris Technologies has just received a contract to deliver modified Bombardier Global 6500 AEW&C aircraft to the ROKAF. L3Harris is partnering with Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems and Korean Air to provide this advanced capability.

As the lead for Viper Shield, my goal is to demonstrate that it’s the lowest-risk solution for the ROKAF. Building an EW system is complex — we’re at the end of the development cycle, already in-flight testing for the internal version. If the ROKAF were to adopt the podded version for their F-16s, it would offer the most economical and lowest-risk path, while delivering advanced EW capabilities — something we’ve seen as absolutely essential in recent conflicts.

What’s particularly interesting for the ROKAF is that they operate a fleet of Block 52s and are now deciding on how to upgrade their EW systems alongside their F-16V upgrade programme. They could go for an internal or podded solution — there are good reasons for both. We can support either configuration, for both the C and D models, which gives us a definite advantage over competitors, especially from a risk perspective.

How is development of the pod-mounted Viper Shield product progressing?

The Viper Shield EW system started as the baseline EW system for the Block 70 F-16. The pod-mounted version shares the same production part numbers and components — the “brains” of the system, including transmitters and pre-amplifiers, are identical to the internal Viper Shield EW system.

We’re already in production for the internal system, and we’ve now reconfigured it to fit inside a pod. Since it’s a smaller system, it was relatively easy to integrate. We used a legacy pod outer mold line, so the flight attachment and testing should be seamless.

We are displaying its half-scale model here, the first time that it is being displayed in South Korea. 

What’s the importance of having this capability as a pod-mounted system, especially for older F-16s?

The main reason for choosing a pod-mounted EW solution is flexibility. You can attach it to specific aircraft that are flying — you don’t have to modify the entire fleet

The Viper Shield Pod variant offers the same capability as the internal system — including DRFM, all-digital wideband staring receivers, and the ability to monitor the full spectrum of threats simultaneously and respond automatically.

That gives pilots better situational awareness and automatic threat response — a huge benefit. It’s the pod I would’ve wanted as an F-16 pilot myself. Flying an F-16 is intense; automating EW functions increases survivability and mission effectiveness. We often call it “electronic armor” — it protects pilots and lets them complete their missions and return safely.

It’s actually the only fully digital, modern pod-mounted EW solution for the F-16 on the market today. Other systems are analog, or at best, hybrid analog-digital. This one is completely digital.