The USAF operates a large fleet of F-16 fighters, which will benefit from a new EW suite currently under development. Credit: US DoD

Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) has completed US Air Force (USAF) testing in the service’s Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Sensors (J-PRIMES) facility.

During a series of tests, AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS was subjected to a series simulated complex radio frequency spectrum threats in the J-PRIMES anechoic chamber. The system demonstrated the ability to detect, identify and counter advanced radio frequency threats while operating safely with other F-16 systems, the company announced in a 4 September 2024 release.

Related Company Profiles

View all

The completion of this process allows AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS to begin flight testing on USAF F-16 aircraft.

The AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS uses an ultra-wideband architecture to counter advanced radio frequency threats. Credit: Northrop Grumman

James Conroy, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability at Northrop Grumman, said the testing completion marked the IVEWS “readiness to protect US and international F-16 fleets”.

Meanwhile, USAF Colonel Michael Rigoni, director, F-16 International Electronic Warfare Systems, said the results were the “culmination” of three years of “extensive” US government system-level testing.

In 2022, Northrop Grumman secured a contract to advance the integration of the AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS onto the USAF’s F-16 fighter fleet.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Insight into new USAF EW system

The AN/ALQ-257 IVEWS is designed to give F-16 electronic warfare (EW) capabilities on a par with fifth-generation aircraft, significantly enhancing survivability for operations in contested electromagnetic spectrum environments.

Northrop Grumman states that its ultra-wideband suite can detect, identify, and counter advanced radio frequency threats, including millimetre wave systems, and has pulse-to-pulse interoperability with the AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanning array (AESA) radar fitted to USAF F-16 fighters.

The system was selected as the US programme of record for F-16 electronic warfare in 2019.

North America forecast to lead global EW market

According to a 2023 GlobalData forecast of the global EW market, the sector, valued at $13.9bn in 2023, was projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% through to 2033, reaching $21.8bn.

Split into four segments (airborne, land, naval, and space), the market was forecast to be dominated by the airborne market, which accounts for 55.1% of the sector, followed by land with a 28.3% share.

Among geographic segments, North America was projected to dominate the sector with a share of 34.1%, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe, with shares of 29.0% and 27.3%, respectively.