Morocco’s F-16 Fleet to Receive Advanced Electronic Warfare Upgrade

Designed by L3Harris Technologies, this state-of-the-art equipment was tested for the first time under the supervision of a test pilot from the US Air Force’s 412th Test Wing, confirming its compatibility with the F-16 Block 70, including its AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, designed by Northrop Grumman.

The Viper Shield is an electronic warfare system capable of real-time detection of enemy radar emissions and deploying counterattacks. It has an adaptive jamming system that can efficiently neutralize threats while avoiding interference with other sensors.

The manufacturer states that this system integrates well with the Block 70 avionics bus and that Viper Shield production is underway, with the first deliveries scheduled before 2025. It should be operational on the 25 F-16 Block 70 ordered by Morocco by 2026.

The Viper Shield can also be integrated into older fighters such as the 23 F-16 Block 52 operated by the Moroccan army. With this acquisition, Morocco reaffirms its determination to equip the Royal Air Force with modern equipment and to raise it to the rank of the best-equipped air forces on the continent.