Breaking News: US Air Force begins EA-37B Compass Call missions to modernize airborne electronic warfare support
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On May 2, 2025, the United States Air Force conducted the first official training flight of the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft. The mission was flown by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. This sortie followed the delivery of the first EA-37B to the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) on August 23, 2024. The EA-37B, which is intended to replace the EC-130H Compass Call, is designed to perform wide-area electromagnetic attacks in support of joint air, ground, and special operations forces, while offering increased speed, range, and survivability compared to its predecessor.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The transition to the new Compass Call platform is part of an effort to modernize and increase the operational efficiency of the Air Force’s electronic warfare capabilities. (Picture source: US DoD)
The transition to this new platform is part of an effort to modernize and increase the operational efficiency of the Air Force’s electronic warfare capabilities. Five EA-37Bs have already been delivered to date. The 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) remains the sole operator of Compass Call aircraft and reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Under the current procurement strategy, ten EA-37B aircraft, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 business jet airframe, are scheduled to be delivered by 2028.
The EA-37B program’s origin lies in a 2017 decision by the US Air Force to rehost the EC-130H’s mission systems onto a smaller, faster, and more modern platform. L3 Technologies (now L3Harris) was selected as the lead integrator, with BAE Systems responsible for the mission systems. The aircraft was initially designated EC-37B but was renamed EA-37B in November 2023. The Secretary of the Air Force approved the new basing at Davis-Monthan AFB in October 2018, with the basing memorandum signed in November of that year. The rehost effort was driven by sustainment concerns and increasing operational demands on the EC-130H fleet. The 43rd ECS completed its final EC-130H sortie on February 15, 2024. Ten EC-130H aircraft have been divested, and the remaining four are scheduled for retirement by 2026. Italy has received approval to acquire two EA-37B mission system packages to convert its Gulfstream G550 aircraft.
Current assessments from the U.S. Air Force and industry partners indicate that a ten-aircraft fleet may not meet future operational requirements. Studies suggest a need for up to twenty aircraft. In April 2025, executives from BAE Systems and L3Harris reported that Air Force demand could exceed current procurement plans. Proposals to increase the fleet to fourteen have previously appeared in congressional funding discussions. L3Harris has outlined a plan for additional aircraft procurement in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to maintain production continuity. There is also foreign interest in the EA-37B, including from Indo-Pacific allies, with the Italian sale cited as an early example of international adoption. The EA-37B is derived from the Gulfstream G550 and modified with external fairings and integrated systems by Gulfstream, BAE Systems, and L3Harris.
Based on an extensively modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, the EA-37B Compass Call is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofan engines, providing a maximum range of 8,167 kilometers and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. (Picture source: US DoD)
The EA-37B carries out a broad range of electromagnetic warfare tasks critical to joint and coalition operations. Its primary mission is to deny, degrade, and disrupt adversary communications, navigation systems, radar networks, and radio-controlled threats. These functions directly support suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and offensive counter-information operations. The aircraft integrates multiple advanced subsystems, including the Small Adaptive Bank of Electronic Resources (SABER), Network-Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT), Software-Defined Radios (SDR), Radio Frequency Receivers (RFR), and the Counter Radar Assembly. Additional equipment includes AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios, KG-250 inline encryptors, KY-100 terminals, KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF, and AN/PYQ-10C key loaders. The aircraft uses the System-Wide Open Reconfigurable Dynamic Architecture (SWORD-A), allowing modular upgrades and rapid integration of new technologies. The mission crew includes up to seven members in addition to two pilots, with roles such as electronic warfare officer, linguist, and maintenance technician. Mission systems are designed for real-time data processing, signal monitoring, and electronic jamming.
Based on an extensively modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, the EA-37B Compass Call is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofan engines, each providing 15,385 pounds of thrust. The EA-37B measures approximately 29.4 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.5 meters and a height of 7.9 meters. It has a fuel capacity of about 22,400 liters, a maximum range of 4,410 nautical miles (8,167 kilometers), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters). Its maximum speed is 767 miles per hour (Mach 0.82). Compared to the thirteen-member crew of the EC-130H, the EA-37B operates with a smaller crew, achieved through automation and improved system integration, and offers extended operational reach and reduced maintenance needs. The aircraft incorporates conformal antenna arrays derived from the G550 CAEW platform, low-profile mission bays, and a reinforced structure capable of supporting specialized apertures. Satellite communications and external links are compatible with U.S. Department of Defense networks. Crew interfaces have been redesigned for improved reliability and fault detection. The aircraft can operate from a broader range of airfields due to its smaller size and higher speed.
The EC-130H Compass Call, which the EA-37B is replacing, has served as the Air Force’s primary tactical electronic warfare platform since it reached initial operating capability in 1983. Based on the C-130 Hercules airframe, the EC-130H was heavily modified with mission systems integrated by L3 Communications and BAE Systems. Its role was to conduct electronic attacks against enemy command and control systems, jamming communications, radar, and navigation systems to degrade adversary situational awareness and coordination. The aircraft also performed offensive counter-information operations and supported SEAD missions. It was operated by a crew of thirteen, with four flight crew and nine mission personnel. Over the years, the fleet underwent Baseline 1 and Baseline 2 upgrades, which introduced digital signal processing, expanded frequency range, increased effective radiated power, and improved reliability. These upgrades enabled the EC-130H to remain relevant for decades, flying in major operations across Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters. Between 2002 and 2015 alone, EC-130Hs flew 6,900 combat sorties and over 40,000 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
As newer threats demanded faster response times, increased automation, and real-time data integration, the US Air Force opted to preserve the EC-130H Compass Call’s core mission functions while migrating them to a faster and more modular platform. (Picture source: US DoD)
Despite its long and effective service, the EC-130H began to face operational and sustainment challenges in the 2010s. The platform’s age, size, and fuel consumption made it increasingly expensive to maintain, while its speed and altitude limitations reduced its survivability against modern threats. The growing complexity of the electromagnetic spectrum, combined with the emergence of sophisticated peer adversary capabilities, rendered the legacy system increasingly vulnerable. As newer threats demanded faster response times, increased automation, and real-time data integration, the Air Force opted to preserve the EC-130H’s core mission functions while migrating them to a more agile and scalable platform. This led directly to the Compass Call Rehost program and the birth of the EA-37B.
The G550 long-range business jet, which serves as the base platform for the EA-37B, was produced by Gulfstream Aerospace from 2003 to 2021. The G550 is a derivative of the GV-SP and incorporates a number of aerodynamic and systems improvements over its predecessor, including increased range, upgraded avionics, and improved flight deck situational awareness. The aircraft has a cabin altitude of 6,000 feet at 51,000 feet cruising altitude, making it comfortable for long-duration missions. Gulfstream produced over 600 G550 aircraft between 2003 and 2021, and many of them remain in civilian, governmental, and military service around the world. The U.S. military uses the G550 under the designations C-37B for VIP transport and MC-55A Peregrine for signals intelligence and reconnaissance missions. The platform’s reliability and support infrastructure made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a dedicated electronic warfare platform under the Compass Call Rehost initiative.
Business jets such as the Gulfstream G550 have increasingly been selected for military roles due to their optimal combination of size, speed, and adaptability. Compared to larger airliners or slower cargo platforms, business jets can offer sufficient interior space for mission equipment while maintaining a smaller logistics footprint and requiring shorter runways. Their high cruising altitudes and long ranges also enable them to conduct strategic-level missions over wide areas without requiring aerial refueling. Additionally, because they originate in the commercial sector, these aircraft benefit from mature supply chains, existing pilot training infrastructure, the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, and a modularity that supports rapid updates and integration of new mission sets, all of which reduce acquisition and operational costs for the military. The EA-37B program leverages these advantages by selecting used G550s from the civilian market, modifying them at Gulfstream’s Savannah facility, and integrating mission systems at L3Harris’s Waco plant.
The adoption of business jets as special mission platforms has become a consistent trend across modern air forces. The Israeli Air Force operates the G550-based CAEW and SEMA aircraft, while Sweden flies SIGINT-configured Gulfstream IVs. France is developing the Falcon 8X-based Archange for strategic electronic intelligence, and Saab’s GlobalEye, built on the Bombardier Global 6000, has been delivered to the United Arab Emirates and offered to multiple NATO partners. These platforms benefit from advances in electronics miniaturization, which enable them to host complex mission systems without requiring large airframes. The EA-37B follows this trend by integrating advanced systems onto a commercially available airframe, offering one of the most advanced embodiments of this approach.
Business jets such as the Gulfstream G550 have increasingly been selected for military roles due to their optimal combination of size, speed, and adaptability. (Picture source: US DoD)
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On May 2, 2025, the United States Air Force conducted the first official training flight of the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft. The mission was flown by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. This sortie followed the delivery of the first EA-37B to the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) on August 23, 2024. The EA-37B, which is intended to replace the EC-130H Compass Call, is designed to perform wide-area electromagnetic attacks in support of joint air, ground, and special operations forces, while offering increased speed, range, and survivability compared to its predecessor.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The transition to the new Compass Call platform is part of an effort to modernize and increase the operational efficiency of the Air Force’s electronic warfare capabilities. (Picture source: US DoD)
The transition to this new platform is part of an effort to modernize and increase the operational efficiency of the Air Force’s electronic warfare capabilities. Five EA-37Bs have already been delivered to date. The 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) remains the sole operator of Compass Call aircraft and reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Under the current procurement strategy, ten EA-37B aircraft, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 business jet airframe, are scheduled to be delivered by 2028.
The EA-37B program’s origin lies in a 2017 decision by the US Air Force to rehost the EC-130H’s mission systems onto a smaller, faster, and more modern platform. L3 Technologies (now L3Harris) was selected as the lead integrator, with BAE Systems responsible for the mission systems. The aircraft was initially designated EC-37B but was renamed EA-37B in November 2023. The Secretary of the Air Force approved the new basing at Davis-Monthan AFB in October 2018, with the basing memorandum signed in November of that year. The rehost effort was driven by sustainment concerns and increasing operational demands on the EC-130H fleet. The 43rd ECS completed its final EC-130H sortie on February 15, 2024. Ten EC-130H aircraft have been divested, and the remaining four are scheduled for retirement by 2026. Italy has received approval to acquire two EA-37B mission system packages to convert its Gulfstream G550 aircraft.
Current assessments from the U.S. Air Force and industry partners indicate that a ten-aircraft fleet may not meet future operational requirements. Studies suggest a need for up to twenty aircraft. In April 2025, executives from BAE Systems and L3Harris reported that Air Force demand could exceed current procurement plans. Proposals to increase the fleet to fourteen have previously appeared in congressional funding discussions. L3Harris has outlined a plan for additional aircraft procurement in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to maintain production continuity. There is also foreign interest in the EA-37B, including from Indo-Pacific allies, with the Italian sale cited as an early example of international adoption. The EA-37B is derived from the Gulfstream G550 and modified with external fairings and integrated systems by Gulfstream, BAE Systems, and L3Harris.
Based on an extensively modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, the EA-37B Compass Call is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofan engines, providing a maximum range of 8,167 kilometers and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. (Picture source: US DoD)
The EA-37B carries out a broad range of electromagnetic warfare tasks critical to joint and coalition operations. Its primary mission is to deny, degrade, and disrupt adversary communications, navigation systems, radar networks, and radio-controlled threats. These functions directly support suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and offensive counter-information operations. The aircraft integrates multiple advanced subsystems, including the Small Adaptive Bank of Electronic Resources (SABER), Network-Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT), Software-Defined Radios (SDR), Radio Frequency Receivers (RFR), and the Counter Radar Assembly. Additional equipment includes AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios, KG-250 inline encryptors, KY-100 terminals, KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF, and AN/PYQ-10C key loaders. The aircraft uses the System-Wide Open Reconfigurable Dynamic Architecture (SWORD-A), allowing modular upgrades and rapid integration of new technologies. The mission crew includes up to seven members in addition to two pilots, with roles such as electronic warfare officer, linguist, and maintenance technician. Mission systems are designed for real-time data processing, signal monitoring, and electronic jamming.
Based on an extensively modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, the EA-37B Compass Call is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofan engines, each providing 15,385 pounds of thrust. The EA-37B measures approximately 29.4 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.5 meters and a height of 7.9 meters. It has a fuel capacity of about 22,400 liters, a maximum range of 4,410 nautical miles (8,167 kilometers), and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters). Its maximum speed is 767 miles per hour (Mach 0.82). Compared to the thirteen-member crew of the EC-130H, the EA-37B operates with a smaller crew, achieved through automation and improved system integration, and offers extended operational reach and reduced maintenance needs. The aircraft incorporates conformal antenna arrays derived from the G550 CAEW platform, low-profile mission bays, and a reinforced structure capable of supporting specialized apertures. Satellite communications and external links are compatible with U.S. Department of Defense networks. Crew interfaces have been redesigned for improved reliability and fault detection. The aircraft can operate from a broader range of airfields due to its smaller size and higher speed.
The EC-130H Compass Call, which the EA-37B is replacing, has served as the Air Force’s primary tactical electronic warfare platform since it reached initial operating capability in 1983. Based on the C-130 Hercules airframe, the EC-130H was heavily modified with mission systems integrated by L3 Communications and BAE Systems. Its role was to conduct electronic attacks against enemy command and control systems, jamming communications, radar, and navigation systems to degrade adversary situational awareness and coordination. The aircraft also performed offensive counter-information operations and supported SEAD missions. It was operated by a crew of thirteen, with four flight crew and nine mission personnel. Over the years, the fleet underwent Baseline 1 and Baseline 2 upgrades, which introduced digital signal processing, expanded frequency range, increased effective radiated power, and improved reliability. These upgrades enabled the EC-130H to remain relevant for decades, flying in major operations across Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters. Between 2002 and 2015 alone, EC-130Hs flew 6,900 combat sorties and over 40,000 hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
As newer threats demanded faster response times, increased automation, and real-time data integration, the US Air Force opted to preserve the EC-130H Compass Call’s core mission functions while migrating them to a faster and more modular platform. (Picture source: US DoD)
Despite its long and effective service, the EC-130H began to face operational and sustainment challenges in the 2010s. The platform’s age, size, and fuel consumption made it increasingly expensive to maintain, while its speed and altitude limitations reduced its survivability against modern threats. The growing complexity of the electromagnetic spectrum, combined with the emergence of sophisticated peer adversary capabilities, rendered the legacy system increasingly vulnerable. As newer threats demanded faster response times, increased automation, and real-time data integration, the Air Force opted to preserve the EC-130H’s core mission functions while migrating them to a more agile and scalable platform. This led directly to the Compass Call Rehost program and the birth of the EA-37B.
The G550 long-range business jet, which serves as the base platform for the EA-37B, was produced by Gulfstream Aerospace from 2003 to 2021. The G550 is a derivative of the GV-SP and incorporates a number of aerodynamic and systems improvements over its predecessor, including increased range, upgraded avionics, and improved flight deck situational awareness. The aircraft has a cabin altitude of 6,000 feet at 51,000 feet cruising altitude, making it comfortable for long-duration missions. Gulfstream produced over 600 G550 aircraft between 2003 and 2021, and many of them remain in civilian, governmental, and military service around the world. The U.S. military uses the G550 under the designations C-37B for VIP transport and MC-55A Peregrine for signals intelligence and reconnaissance missions. The platform’s reliability and support infrastructure made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a dedicated electronic warfare platform under the Compass Call Rehost initiative.
Business jets such as the Gulfstream G550 have increasingly been selected for military roles due to their optimal combination of size, speed, and adaptability. Compared to larger airliners or slower cargo platforms, business jets can offer sufficient interior space for mission equipment while maintaining a smaller logistics footprint and requiring shorter runways. Their high cruising altitudes and long ranges also enable them to conduct strategic-level missions over wide areas without requiring aerial refueling. Additionally, because they originate in the commercial sector, these aircraft benefit from mature supply chains, existing pilot training infrastructure, the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, and a modularity that supports rapid updates and integration of new mission sets, all of which reduce acquisition and operational costs for the military. The EA-37B program leverages these advantages by selecting used G550s from the civilian market, modifying them at Gulfstream’s Savannah facility, and integrating mission systems at L3Harris’s Waco plant.
The adoption of business jets as special mission platforms has become a consistent trend across modern air forces. The Israeli Air Force operates the G550-based CAEW and SEMA aircraft, while Sweden flies SIGINT-configured Gulfstream IVs. France is developing the Falcon 8X-based Archange for strategic electronic intelligence, and Saab’s GlobalEye, built on the Bombardier Global 6000, has been delivered to the United Arab Emirates and offered to multiple NATO partners. These platforms benefit from advances in electronics miniaturization, which enable them to host complex mission systems without requiring large airframes. The EA-37B follows this trend by integrating advanced systems onto a commercially available airframe, offering one of the most advanced embodiments of this approach.
Business jets such as the Gulfstream G550 have increasingly been selected for military roles due to their optimal combination of size, speed, and adaptability. (Picture source: US DoD)
