IVEWS: 500 Flight Hours, 300 Sorties, One System Rises Above the Rest

While 5th and 6th-generation fighters rely on stealth and connectivity, platforms such as the F-16 depend on proven electronic warfare technologies like the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) to protect pilots and maintain freedom of maneuver in contested airspace. IVEWS has proven its unmatched performance in more than 500 flight hours and 300 sorties against multiple simultaneous land, surface and airborne radio frequency (RF) threats.

IVEWS undergoing flight test. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force)

Outsmart. Outmaneuver.

Backed by decades of Northrop Grumman innovation, IVEWS detects, identifies, and counters advanced threats - keeping pilots safe and aircraft mission-ready. IVEWS is the most advanced ultra-wideband electronic warfare system for the Viper, a critical upgrade that keeps pilots in the fight.

IVEWS is also the only F-16 electronic warfare (EW) suite that features pulse-to-pulse interoperability with the Viper's AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar, providing capability without compromise - no filtering, no blackouts, and no diminished protection or targeting capability. In contested airspace, getting into the fight requires this high level of protection.

IVEWS in Northrop Grumman's advanced manufacturing facility. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

By selecting IVEWS as the F-16 EW program of record, the U.S. Air Force recognized the unique capabilities IVEWS offers for Viper pilots.

Protection Designed to Evolve

Static, predictable threats are rapidly being replaced by more agile, mobile systems that operate across a broad electromagnetic spectrum. These threats can activate and deactivate quickly, leaving little time for EW systems to react.

IVEWS will use an open architecture that enables continuous evolution. Northrop Grumman's decades of experience with open systems ensure compliance with the Air Force's Big Iron initiative for future platform integrations. Big Iron is an open architecture software standard focused on electronic warfare to allow for rapid integration of new capabilities while minimizing aircraft downtime. As threats evolve, so will IVEWS.

IVEWS undergoing flight test at a U.S. government range, confirming its ability to detect and defeat advanced RF threats. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

"You cannot defeat what you cannot see," said Shalini Gupta, vice president of electronic warfare and targeting at Northrop Grumman. "A modern EW suite is essential for operations in contested airspace. We are producing fully functional, flight-proven systems now. From day one, our customers gain the ability to geolocate threats with a single aircraft, and the confidence that comes with having a U.S. program of record system on board."