On Monday, July 21, U.S.-based company L3Harris announced that the Italian Air Force has confirmed the purchase of two new EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft to bolster its fleet, with Rome set to invest approximately $300 million for the acquisition. The sale, in which L3Harris partnered with BAE Systems, is also noteworthy as it marks the first time the U.S. government has approved the sale of this type of platform to one of its international allies.
Among the official statements released, one from Jason Lambert, President of L3Harris’ Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance division, stands out: “We are expanding our support to the Italian Armed Forces by equipping them with mission-ready, modern technology designed to operate in a dynamic global environment. Our team will provide Italy with solutions to enhance its national security and increase its interoperability with the United States and its strategic allies.”
It is worth noting that the new aircraft to be incorporated by the Aeronautica Militare feature advanced electromagnetic attack capabilities, which translate into the ability to disrupt enemy communications, radars, and navigation systems at long distances and high altitudes. To enable such operations, the modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft carrying this equipment feature characteristics particularly suited for integration into Italy’s Special Mission Aircraft Fleet.
Regarding these advanced capabilities, it’s useful to highlight that the EA-37B Compass Call was developed in the U.S. as a replacement for the aging EC-130 aircraft, which are scheduled to be retired from service in 2026. Along those lines, previous reports indicate that the U.S. Air Force plans to acquire a total of 10 EA-37B aircraft, evenly split between the Baseline 3 and Baseline 4 variants.
Looking more broadly at the context of Italy’s confirmed acquisition, it’s important to recall that the European country is currently working to implement the Piattaforma Multi-Missione program, officially outlined in the Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa for 2022–2024. In general terms, the program’s goal is to advance the integration of assets within a network-centric C4ISTAR structure, notable for its flexibility to operate across various mission types conducted by the Italian Air Force.
Images used for illustrative purposes only
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