USAF’s EA-37B Compass Call has conducted its first mission training sortie

The EA-37B Compass Call, a wide-area airborne electromagnetic attack platform derived from a heavily modified Gulfstream G550 airframe, has completed its first training sortie, the US Air Force (USAF) announced on 14 May 2025.

The inaugural training mission was flown on 2 May by the USAF’s 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS), part of the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG), out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

The EA-37B will replace the legacy EC-130H as a more modern and cost-effective, commercial-derivative electromagnetic attack platform. Ten of 14 EC-130H aircraft have been divested to date, while a total of 10 EA-37Bs are expected to be produced to replace them.

The contract to replace the EC-130H Compass Call fleet was awarded to L3 Technologies (now L3Harris) in September 2017. While L3Harris modifies the G550 airframe, the platform’s mission equipment is provided by BAE Systems.

“The EA-37B and the professionals who support its mission represent the most recent evolution in a long history of EMS [electromagnetic spectrum] dominance for the ECG,” Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Szweda, 43rd ECS director of operations, was quoted as saying in a USAF press release. “The capabilities of this platform are the cornerstone to addressing emerging threats in any AOR [area of responsibility] at any time.”

The EA-37B sustains Joint Force military advantage in the electromagnetic battlespace and builds a more lethal force by modernising the USAF’s electromagnetic attack capabilities to deny peer competitors’ tactical networks and information networks. The aircraft additionally denies, degrades and disrupts adversary communications, information processing, navigation, radar systems and radio-controlled threats. It also employs offensive counter-information and electromagnetic attack capabilities in support of US and coalition tactical air, surface and special operations forces.

“This EA-37B mission culminates years of planning and co-ordination between thousands of people spanning many organisations,” said Lieutenant Colonel 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 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron leading developments in the Electromagnetic Spectrum.”

The first EA-37B was delivered to the 55th ECG on 23 August 2024 to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to begin pilot training. Although located at Davis-Monthan, the 55th ECG reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. The group is the sole operator of Compass Call aircraft in worldwide contingency operations.