L3Harris Technologies has received a USD 300 million (EUR 256.2 million) contract from Italy to deliver two Gulfstream G550 aircraft provisioned as airborne electronic attack (EA) platforms for the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare – AM), the company announced on 21 July 2025.
In US Air Force service the G550-based EA platform is known as the EA-37B Compass Call. The Italian G550 EA programme represents the first time the US government has approved an EA-37B sale to an international ally.
Once modified with EA capabilities, the G550s will provide the AM with an airborne long-range jamming capability to disrupt and suppress enemies command and control, communication, navigation and air defence systems.
To conduct the work L3Harris is teaming with BAE Systems, which under a USD 12 million subcontract will provide hardware to modify the aircraft, including racks, radomes, cables and harnesses to prepare for the installation of advanced electronic warfare mission systems.
“We are expanding our support of Italy’s armed forces by equipping them with modern mission technology ready for managing a dynamic global landscape,” Jason Lambert, L3Harris’ president for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Our team will provide Italy with solutions to augment its national security and increase its interoperability with the US and strategic allies.”
Once complete, the G550 EA platforms will join the Italian Ministry of Defence’s fleet of special mission aircraft along with the Joint Airborne Multi-Mission Multi-Sensor System (JAMMS) effort to advance the country’s airborne capabilities. L3Harris is currently modifying two G550s into ISR aircraft under JAMMS.