Ukrainian F-16s get latest U.S. electronic warfare upgrade to counter Russian air defense

According to Defense Express, the U.S. Air Force has officially announced that the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing has equipped Ukrainian F-16s with the latest version of electronic warfare technology. This upgrade is tailored to effectively counter Russian air defense systems, considering their specific operational characteristics.

The publication reports that the unit of the U.S. Air Force, which specializes in developing, adapting, and managing electronic countermeasures systems, was responsible for updating the electronic warfare system on the F-16s.

According to the unit's press service, this operation was unique because it involved equipment not previously used by U.S. forces. Defense Express notes that this equipment is likely the ECIPS/CJS container seen on Ukrainian fighters.

The update also had to meet tight deadlines due to the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine. Consequently, U.S. experts first needed to assess the actual capabilities of the equipment before upgrading its software.

Defense Express notes an interesting point: while the Netherlands and Denmark were reported to have received the upgrade for their aircraft, they did not have access to these advanced American solutions. This discrepancy may simply be due to a lack of initiative on the part of the European partners.

At the same time, the U.S. Air Force has stated that it will receive data from Ukraine on the use of the electronic warfare equipment in combat. This information will help update the systems not only for Ukraine but also for the United States and other NATO countries.

• On August 5, it was reported that F-16 fighter jets received by Ukraine are equipped with Terma PIDS+ pylons with missile attack early warning system.