The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy worth USD 680 million (EUR 619.75 million) of the Electronic Attack (EA)-37B mission system, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 7 October 2024.
Assuming the FMS proceeds, this will provide the Italian Air Force with an electronic attack capability commensurate with the US Air Force’s Gulfstream G550-based EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, which are replacing the service’s EC-130 Hercules Compass Call platforms. The system disrupts enemy command, control and communication systems; radars; and navigation systems to degrade their capabilities.
The Italian Air Force intends to host the system on two converted Gulfstream G550 aircraft.
The Electronic Attack (EA)-37B mission system package requested by Italy includes Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) systems; System Control and Monitoring subsystems; radio frequency receiver (RFR) subsystems; software-defined radio subsystems; counter-radar assemblies; array panels; AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios; KG-250 in-line network encryptors; KY-100 narrow/wideband terminals; KIV-77 Mode 4/5 identification friend or foe (IFF) systems; AN/PYQ-10C simple key loaders; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; and various aspects of technical, engineering, facilities, transportation, training, logistics and programme support.
“The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing interoperability with the United States Air Force (USAF) and disrupting enemy command-and-control communications when Italy is contributing to overseas contingency operations,” the DSCA stated.
The principal contractor for the sale is BAE Systems out of its facilities in Hudson, New Hampshire.