In a major step toward modernizing its electronic warfare capabilities, the U.S. Air Force successfully carried out the first mission training sortie for its new EA-37B Compass Call aircraft on May 2.
The milestone event, conducted by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, signals the transition from aging Cold War-era systems to a next-generation electronic attack platform designed to meet modern threats.
“This EA-37B mission culminates years of planning and coordination between thousands of people spanning many organizations,” said Lt. Col. Tray Wood, commander of the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron.
“The hard work and dedication of these groups ensure the [55th] Electronic Combat Group is prepared for future conflict with the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron leading developments in the electromagnetic spectrum.”
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The EA-37B is a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet.
Outfitted with advanced and classified electronic warfare systems, the aircraft is capable of jamming enemy communications, radar, and GPS navigation.
It can also wirelessly neutralize roadside bombs and disrupt the ability of adversary air defense systems to share targeting information—giving U.S. and allied aircraft a critical advantage in contested environments.
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This advanced aircraft is set to replace the Air Force’s EC-130H Compass Call fleet, which has been in service since the 1980s, with some aircraft tracing their lineage back to the Vietnam War.
Unlike the EC-130Hs, which are adapted from the military C-130 transport plane, the EA-37Bs benefit from modern avionics, faster speeds, longer ranges, and higher operational ceilings.
According to L3Harris, one of the program’s co-prime contractors along with BAE Systems, the new Compass Call aircraft will be able to fly 40% faster, reach nearly 15,000 feet higher, and travel twice the distance of their predecessors.
These performance enhancements make the EA-37B a far more versatile and survivable platform in modern combat scenarios.
The development of the EA-37B has been a collaborative effort involving numerous organizations and contractors.
BAE Systems is responsible for developing the classified electronic attack systems, while L3Harris integrates the systems into the G550 airframes at its Waco, Texas, facility.
Gulfstream, the manufacturer of the base aircraft, modifies the jet’s structure to accommodate the new mission equipment at its Savannah, Georgia, plant.
So far, the Air Force has retired 10 of its 14 EC-130Hs.
The transition to the EA-37B is already underway, with the first aircraft delivered to Davis-Monthan in August 2024 to kick off pilot training.
The Air Force has plans to acquire a total of 10 EA-37Bs. Five of these aircraft have already been delivered, and the remaining five are expected to arrive between 2027 and 2028.
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The move to a commercially-derived platform like the G550 is expected to streamline maintenance and logistics.
Because the aircraft shares many components with civilian jets, spare parts are more readily available, reducing downtime and enhancing mission readiness.
Lt. Col. Jesse Szweda, director of operations for the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron, emphasized the importance of the EA-37B to the future of the Air Force's capabilities in electronic warfare.
“The EA-37B and the professionals who support its mission represent the most recent evolution in a long history of [electromagnetic spectrum] dominance for the 55th Electronic Combat Group,” Szweda said.
“The capabilities of this platform are the cornerstone to addressing emerging threats in any [area of responsibility] at any time.”
The EA-37B Compass Call is more than just a replacement—it is a generational leap forward in the U.S. military’s ability to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum.
As conflicts increasingly depend on controlling and denying access to information, assets like the EA-37B will play a pivotal role in future operations, ensuring that American and allied forces maintain the upper hand in both deterrence and combat.
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