L3Harris Technologies is showcasing its electronic warfare solutions at the MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, which opened on September 2. Among the company’s main focus areas at the event is the Viper Shield, an all-digital electronic warfare suite designed for the F-16.
Poland recently became the seventh country to select the Viper Shield system as part of its F-16 modernization program. The decision marks a significant step in enhancing the survivability and operational effectiveness of the fleet, integrating advanced electronic countermeasures to meet rapidly evolving threats.
Company officials noted that the Viper Shield’s fully digital architecture enables faster adaptation to changing conditions, improved situational awareness, and seamless integration with the F-16’s APG-83 AESA radar. They emphasized that the system’s software-defined design allows updates to be delivered quickly, ensuring sustained effectiveness against emerging threats while minimizing long-term lifecycle costs.
In addition to presenting the system in Kielce, L3Harris underscored its expanding presence in Poland. The firm recently opened a regional headquarters in Warsaw and a new production facility in Katowice, aimed at serving both Polish defense needs and broader European customers.
Speaking to Defensehere.com during MSPO, Andy Builta, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Space and Airborne Systems, highlighted the importance of Poland’s decision to integrate Viper Shield into its F-16 fleet, stressing that it would significantly strengthen both survivability and mission success. Dave Nyikos, Director of International Business Development and a former F-15 pilot, underlined that Poland is the first F-16 upgrade customer to select an electronic warfare suite for modernization. He added that the move creates greater interoperability among allied air forces adopting the same system, allowing them to share a common operational framework. Nyikos also pointed out that while the hardware represents a generational leap, the system’s real advantage lies in its software-driven adaptability to counter fast-changing electronic threats.