OVERVIEW: The EA-37B Compass Call is a U.S. Air Force electronic attack aircraft developed as a successor to the EC-130H, based on the Gulfstream G550 airframe. Entering service in 2023, it is used for offensive electronic warfare, disrupting enemy command, control, and communications (C3) systems.

DETAILS: The EA-37B is part of the Compass Call Rehost Program, which transferred the mission systems from the legacy EC-130H onto a smaller, faster, and more survivable Gulfstream G550 business jet platform. The aircraft is modified by L3Harris and BAE Systems to carry advanced electronic warfare suites designed to jam adversary communications, radar, and data links. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710C4-11 turbofan engines, cruises at Mach 0.85, and has a range exceeding 12,000 km. The EA-37B offers superior altitude, endurance, and deployment flexibility compared to its predecessor while retaining full-spectrum electronic attack capabilities.

Externally, the aircraft features multiple fuselage-mounted antenna arrays and mission-specific fairings. Its onboard systems enable real-time electronic attack against enemy emitters in contested environments. The G550 airframe offers reduced radar and acoustic signatures, rapid deployment capabilities, and global reach as part of joint and coalition force operations.

TYPE: Electronic Attack Aircraft

FUNCTION: Disrupts, denies, and degrades enemy communications and radar systems through airborne jamming and electronic attack. It supports suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), electronic warfare escort, and tactical force protection in joint operations.

NOTE:
IOC: 1983 (EC-130H), 2023 (EA-37B)
Manufacturer: Gulfstream Aerospace (USA), modified by L3Harris and BAE Systems (USA)
Operators: United States
Conflict used in: Not yet used in combat as of 2025

SOURCE:
U.S. Air Force: https://www.af.mil ; L3Harris: https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/press-release/2023/10/us-air-force-compass-call-achieves-milestone ; BAE Systems: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/compass-call ; Defense.gov: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3559387/us-air-force-unveils-ea-37b-compass-call-electronic-warfare-aircraft