On May 2, the U.S. Air Force announced that it had conducted the first training flight with the new EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft, carried out by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS). This platform is equipped with an advanced wide-area electromagnetic attack system, mounted on the fuselage of a commercial Gulfstream G550 aircraft, both of which were selected to replace the older EC-130H aircraft that have already begun to be retired from service.
Referring to this milestone, the 43rd ECS commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tray Wood, stated: “This EA-37B mission culminates years of planning and coordination among thousands of people from various organizations. The hard work and dedication of these groups ensure that the Electronic Combat Group is prepared for future conflicts, with the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron leading advancements in the electromagnetic spectrum.”
It is worth noting that the EA-37B Compass Call represents the most modern capability of the U.S. Air Force for completely jamming enemy tactical networks and information ecosystems, which supposes an extremely relevant advantage in today’s battlefields. The aircraft is also capable of degrading and disrupting communications, navigation, and radar equipment of the target, thus facilitating the work of other Air Force elements in the area where it is deployed, including support for special operations units.
Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Szweda, currently serving as director of operations for the 43rd ECS, commented: “The EA-37B and the professionals supporting its mission represent the latest evolution in a long history of EMS dominance for the ECG (…) The capabilities of this platform are the cornerstone for addressing emerging threats in any area of responsibility, at any time.”
Reviewing some details of the EA-37B’s integration program into the service, it is worth noting that a total of ten aircraft are expected to be assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group. The first unit of this new capability was already incorporated in August of last year, with its home base established at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska; however, it is currently deployed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in order to allow future crews to become familiar with it.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the retirement of the EC-130 fleet already has a set end date, currently scheduled for 2026. The U.S. Air Force originally operated a fleet of fourteen of these aircraft, but with the retirement process underway, only four remain in service.
*Image credits: Aviator Samantha Melecio
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