Davis-Monthan's Bats officially receive Compass Call "II"
On 23 August 2024, the first EA-37B, a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 aircraft, was officially delivered to Air Combat Command's 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron 'Bats' at Davis-Monthan AFB near Tucson (AZ).
The DM coded EA-37B, with serial number 19-5591, derived from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and Gulfstream Factory construction number 5591, was adorned with Air Combat Command's commander "Gen. Ken Wilsbach" on the nose. 5591 was conveniently handed over by four-star General Wilsbach to the Compass Call community at Davis-Monthan.
Replacing the legacy EC-130H Compass Call "I" aircraft, the EA-37B Compass Call "II", is a wide-area airborne electromagnetic attack weapon system using a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 airframe. At this moment it is unknown to Scramble why the USAF has not chosen voor the Compass Call "II" designation. On 11 October 2021, Scramble Magazine first wrote about the new designation of the Gulfstream.
The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron is part of the 55th Electronic Combat Group, which reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB (NE). Although more aircraft have been seen flying from Davis-Monthan, a second EA-37B is officially expected to be delivered for training to the 43rd ECS by the end of 2024.
The following ten EA-37Bs will eventually end up with the 43rd ECS; 17-5567, 18-5579, 19-5591, 19-5602, 20-5608, 21-5612, 22-5618, 23-5622, 24-5627 and 25-5629 (for the last two their FY is not known but assumed by procurement documents).
On 22 November 2023, Scramble magazine wrote about the USAF giving the new Compass Call a more intense designation.
Credit photos: USAF