The enduring commercial success of the fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon gives the Americans an impetus to continue upgrading the platform. Where we thought they would stop at the F-16V (Viper) version now it seems they are experimenting with something even more sophisticated, the IVEWS upgrade package.
More specifically, the US Air Force recently completed a test flight with an F-16 that received the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite – IVEWS upgrade package. Let’s take a closer look at what this package includes and in what areas it makes the F-16 worthy of a fifth-generation fighter.
Is the F-16 Becoming a Fifth Generation Fighter?
The Viper AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Electronic Warfare Package (IVEWS) was developed specifically for the F-16 fighter with the ultimate goal of enhancing the aircraft’s electronic warfare capabilities. In fact, the IVEWS is so advanced that it is believed to compete with corresponding fifth generation fighter systems.
Last month the US Air Force conducted the first test flight of an F-16 equipped with the IVEWS package. The fighter belonged to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron and took off from Eglin Air Force Base.
According to the American aviator, the new state-of-the-art electronic warfare package will give the F-16 the ability to deal with modern threats.
During the tests the F-16 was able to detect, identify and counter advanced radio frequency threats while all other systems of the aircraft were functioning properly.
Given this, the task force has determined that the IVEWS system is ready for use in the US and foreign F-16 fleets.
Although the IVEWS was designed for use on the Fighting Falcon, the Americans say it can be installed on other military aircraft and platforms. For now, however, the US Air Force will continue testing the F-16 platform.
