The Air Force debuts its advanced EA-37B Compass Call, replacing the EC-130H to bolster electronic warfare capabilities with faster, higher-flying, and more versatile electromagnetic attack operations.
Earlier this month, the United States Air Force’s 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron carried out the first mission training sortie of its new electronic-warfare aircraft (EW) at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska. It comes about eight months after the first EA-37B “Compass Call,” a heavily modified Gulfstream G550 airframe, was delivered to the unit. Pilot mission planning and training began last year.
The 55th Wing at Offutt AFB explained that the EA-37B is replacing the aging EC-130H, providing “a more modern and cost-effective, commercial derivative aircraft.” The aircraft are assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group and flown by the 43rd ECS.
The Air Force has called for maintaining ten electronic-attack planes in its fleet, while ten EC-130H aircraft have already been retired.
“The EA-37B and the professionals who support its mission represent the most recent evolution in a long history of EMS dominance for the ECG,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Szweda, 43rd ECS director of operations.
“The capabilities of this platform are the cornerstone to addressing emerging threats in any AOR at any time.”
After training, the EA-37Bs will head to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
The New EW Aircraft Is a Huge Improvement Over the EC-130H
While the U.S. military arguably doesn’t consider comfort when designing aircraft, the EA-37A could significantly upgrade the aircrews. The soon-to-be-retired EC-130H Compass Call was based on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, while the new EA-37B is a heavily modified business jet.
The modified Gulfstream G550, developed by L3Harris-BAE Systems, is equipped with far more advanced electronic attack platforms. It is a true step up from the EC-130H. The new Compass Call aircraft has a ceiling of around 40,000 feet and can reach a top speed of nearly 600 mph, roughly twice as high and twice as fast as the former EW plane.
The mission will remain essentially the same, providing the Joint Force military with the ability to deny, degrade, and disrupt an adversary’s communications and “information processing, navigation, radar systems, and radio-controlled threats.”
The aircraft can also carry out “offensive counter-information and electromagnetic attack capabilities in support of U.S. and coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces,” the service added.
As reported last month by Harrison Kass for The National Interest, “The EA-37B’s role is not the sort of thing to capture the public’s imagination. Even so, the plane will be important in the Air Force’s future mission profile.”
At the same time, he noted that the “modifications include Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) systems, System Control and Monitoring subsystems, Radio Frequency Receiver (RFR) subsystems, Software-defined Radio (SDR) subsystems, Counter Radar Assembly, and more.”
The improved aircraft will also conduct standoff jamming and offensive counter-information missions from a greater distance.
“This EA-37B mission culminates years of planning and coordination between thousands of people spanning many organizations,” said Lt. Col. Tray Wood, 43rd ECS commander.
“The hard work and dedication of these groups ensure the Electronic Combat Group is prepared for future conflict with the 43d Electronic Combat Squadron leading developments in the Electromagnetic Spectrum.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Senior Airman Paige Weldon.
