Northrop Grumman F-16 electronic warfare suite capable of countering modern radio frequency threats

In the first LIVE test of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) last week, the system proved capable of countering modern radio frequency (RF) attacks, effectively blocking certain hacking attempts.

During testing, simulated air defense radar pulses were sent directly into IVEWS to confirm its ability to recognize and defend against these threats. If the aircraft is unprotected, RF attacks could disrupt, damage, or interfere with electronic devices. The signals used in LIVE testing, which stands for the U.S. Air Force’s Laboratory Intelligence Validated Emulator testing, signals are validated models offering realistic representations of such threats.

In a closed-loop, direct injection sequence, IVEWS faced down a threat radar emulator, incorporating various known capabilities and features. It is the closest to a field test without facing a true threat.

“As advanced radio frequency threats continue to proliferate, the protection afforded by IVEWS is essential,” said James Conroy, vice president of navigation, targeting, and survivability at Northrop Grumman. “This successful evaluation under very challenging conditions is an important step on the path to fielding the suite.”

The electronic warfare suite IVEWS was specifically designed for the Air Force’s F-16 fleet. It is designed to be exportable for current and previous generations of the aircraft, thanks to modular, open systems design principles at its heart. According to Northrop Grumman, it also boasts significant improvements over heritage systems, such as extended frequency coverage, full spatial coverage, and more rapid responses.

Additionally, the system uses broadband power amplifiers and adaptive countermeasure modulations to provide more efficient means of detecting, identifying, locating, and countering next generation sensors and weapons.