Hommam Al Nassim 
The US Department of Defense announced an amendment allowing “Lockheed Martin” to begin production of the “Viper Shield” electronic warfare system for the modern Moroccan “Block 70/72 F-16” aircraft.
This announcement came in a statement of military deals on Thursday that the company’s contract, to produce “Viper Shield” for the allies of the United States, “has introduced an amendment to expand the contract for long lead materials to allow the contractor to begin production tasks.”
Production is expected to be completed by June 30, 2028, and the system will be provided within the “FMS” service that benefits US allied countries, namely Bahrain, Bulgaria, Morocco, Slovakia, and Taiwan.
This system will be produced by Lockheed Martin jointly with L3Harris Technologies, which was chosen to develop the Viper Shield in 2021, according to the Pentagon.
The Pentagon’s announcement confirmed that Morocco will soon receive the modern “Block 70/72 F-16” fighter, and for the first time officially guarantees that the new Royal Air Force fighters will receive the “Viper Shield” system.
These aircraft are considered the most advanced in the “F-16” class of fighters, as they are very similar to the F-35 specifications, especially with regard to fifth-generation military electronic equipment and devices.
The “Viper Shield” system is distinguished by its ability to provide a virtual electronic shield around the aircraft, enabling fighter pilots to complete missions safely and confront all increasingly complex battlefield scenarios. It also works to confuse adversaries, provide advance warnings of any upcoming threat, and provide counter-digital capabilities. .
The manufacturer said on its official website, “This new system comes to provide US allies with advanced countermeasures against evolving and constantly changing threats.”
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