The AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) from Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has passed U.S. Air Force Laboratory Intelligence Validated Emulator (LIVE) testing. Several benchmarks were exceeded, and the system demonstrated its capacity to counter modern radio frequency (RF) threats. This was the first time the ultra-wideband architecture in IVEWS was tested in real time.

“As advanced radio frequency threats continue to proliferate, the protection provided by IVEWS is critical,” said James Conroy, vice president of Northrop Grumman’s navigation, targeting, and survivability. “This successful evaluation under extremely difficult conditions is a key step toward fielding the suite.”

Simulated air defense radar pulses were pumped directly into IVEWS throughout the test to validate the suite’s capacity to recognize and defeat sophisticated threats. LIVE testing signals are proven models that provide realistic representations of radio frequency dangers. Based on threat capabilities and features, LIVE is an intelligence validated, closed-loop RF direct-injection threat radar emulator. It enables electronic warfare technologies to be tested in realistic conditions.

The receiver/exciter architecture in IVEWS is fully digital and relies on safe, modular, open systems design concepts. It offers substantial advantages over legacy systems. This technology enables more frequency coverage, full spatial coverage, and faster replies. It is meant to detect, identify, locate, and defeat next-generation sensors and weapons by utilizing highly efficient broadband power amplifiers and adaptive countermeasure modulations.

IVEWS is a record electronic warfare suite for the United States Air Force’s F-16 fleet. The system is exportable for both current and past F-16 versions.