The United States Air Force has officially launched operations with its newest airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft.
On May 2, 2025, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS) completed the first mission training sortie with the EA-37B, marking a significant milestone in the transition away from the legacy EC-130H Compass Call fleet.
“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 Lieutenant Colonel 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.”
The USAF Air Combat Command received its first EA-37B aircraft, serial number 19-5591, on August 27, 2024. It is the first of 10 aircraft expected to be delivered under the program, with the entire fleet to be assigned to the 55th ECG. The aircraft will be operated by the 43rd ECS and maintained by a Contractor Logistics Support team at Davis-Monthan. While based at Davis-Monthan, the 55th ECG reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
What is the EA-37B Compass Call?
The EA-37B is a heavily modified Gulfstream G550 business jet designed to deliver advanced electromagnetic warfare capabilities. Developed under the Compass Call Rehost program, the aircraft retains much of the original EC-130H’s mission system, reconfigured into a lighter, faster, and more efficient airframe.
The EC-130H Compass Call, a modified C-130 Hercules, has served since the 1980s. So far, 10 of the 14 EC-130H aircraft have been divested. Compared to its predecessor, the EA-37B offers a reduced crew requirement, from 13 to nine, and improved speed, range, and cost efficiency.
Assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the EA-37B is designed to deny, degrade, and disrupt adversary communications, navigation, radar systems, and other radio-controlled threats. It also provides offensive counter-information capabilities to support US and allied tactical air, ground, and special operations forces.
In October 2024, the US State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Italy, authorizing the acquisition of the EA-37B Compass Call electronic-attack aircraft and associated equipment. The Italian Air Force already has two Airborne Early Warning aircraft based on the same business jet, known as the G550 CAEW.
