What To Know About The Air Force’s Secretive New EA-37B Electronic Warfare Aircraft

Away from the spotlight, the new EA-37B electronic attack aircraft are coming into service. They are silently replacing the now-retiring legacy EC-130H Compass Call aircraft. Much of the success or failure of fighter aircraft like F-18s, F-16s, and F-35s relies on supporting aircraft like electronic attack aircraft and AWACS.

These are areas where the US tends to excel and are key ingredients in its ability to conduct SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) operations and DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defense) operations.

Role of Compass Call and electronic attack aircraft

While some military aircraft (like the new ‘Air Force One’, the F-22 Raptors, and F-35 fighter jets) make a splash as they come into service and others (like the A-10 Warthog) go out with a lot of fanfare, this is not true of all military aircraft. Lost in the background are some of the rarest and most important aircraft, such as electronic attack aircraft.

“The EA-37B sustains Joint Force military advantage in the electromagnetic battlespace and builds a more lethal force by modernizing electromagnetic attack capabilities to deny peer competitors’ tactical networks and information ecosystems.” – US Air Force

Electronic aircraft are used to attack enemies early warning, acquire radar threats, and perform counter-information operations. The EA-37B/EC-130H are part of a triad of US DoD electronic attack aircraft (the other two include EA-18G Growlers and F-16CJs). The EA-18G replaced the last of the EA-A6 Prowlers in 2019.

The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron has worked quietly behind the scenes in Afghanistan and spent 20 years overseas with Compass Call before returning home in 2021.

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Gulfstream EA-37Bs replace Hercules EC-130Hs

One of the niche variants of the famous C-130 Hercules family is the EC-130H Compass Call. It is a specialized aircraft dedicated to electronic warfare that enables other aircraft to attack their targets safely.

Legacy electronic attack Hercules is quietly replacing the new EA-37B (formerly EC-37B). These will assume the popular name “Compass Call” after the last EC-130H retires or in 2026 (whichever comes earlier). EA-37Bs are now being delivered to their units, starting with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

The US Air Force only operated 14 of these notable Hercules, and as of November 2023, it had quietly retired nine of them and placed them into storage. Furthermore, it seems one more EC-130H is destined for the boneyard in 2024.

Photo: ranchorunner | Shutterstock

The first EA-37B was delivered to the Air Force in September 2023 for developmental and operational testing (two years later than anticipated). Initial operating capability is expected in 2026. According to Airforce Technology, the replacement will not be one-for-one. Instead, the Air Force plans to replace the 14 EC-130H fleet with ten EA-37Bs.

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

In March 2024, the Air Force Times reported the Air Force is planning to add five EA-37B Compass Call aircraft in the coming fiscal year.

Speaking about the final flight of one of the EC-130Hs, Lt. Col. Tray C. Wood, 43rd ECS commander, stated, “As we welcome a new era of electronic attack, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron will play a critical role in security, air superiority, and mission success within the multi-domain theatre. In an era where electromagnetic dominance is synonymous with strategic advantage, the 43rd ECS remains at the forefront, ensuring the continued success of the warfighter.”

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What is known of the new Compass Call

The EA-37B may not look as impressive as the formidable-looking Hercules EC-130H. However, a large aircraft is no longer needed to perform the role as technology has miniaturized over the years. The sleek EA-37B is based on a heavily modified business jet—the Gulfstream G550 airframe (specifically the Gulfstream G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning Aircraft (CAEW) airframe).

These have been outfitted by an L3Harris-BAE Systems team with advanced electronic attack equipment. L3Harris is one of the top three defense contractors in the US and produces command and control systems, wireless equipment, tactical radios, avionics and electronic systems, and more. They offer considerably more capabilities than their predecessors, which have been operating since 1982.

The new Gulfstream-based Compass Calls will be half the weight and reduce operating costs by 50%. They have a service ceiling and a speed of about twice that of the outgoing EC-130Hs. They even reduced the number of crew needed to operate them (to nine).