USAF gives new “Compass Call" a more intense designation
On 27 October 2023, Air Combat Command’s EC-37B has been redesignated to become the EA-37B. While Scramble Magazine assesses that the Gulfstream G550 business jet derative will fly till the end of the 21st century, it seems that the USAF has consciously opted for a new designation for the EC-37B.
With the current global threats, an "Electronic Attack" aircraft seems sounding better and more intense than an "Electronic Cargo" aircraft. Besides that, the EA-37B aircraft designation was selected to better identify the platform’s capabilities of finding, attacking, and destroying enemy land or sea targets.
Recently, two aircraft have been delivered to Air Force Materiel Command's Detachment-1 of the 645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron which is located in Waco (TX) for development and operational testing. Delivery of the first DM coded EA-37B to the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ) is expected in 2024. Additionally, it is expected that the aircraft will assume the popular name “Compass Call” in fiscal year 2026 or upon retirement of the EC-130H if earlier. To date, the USAF has divested 9 of 14 EC-130Hs. The divested aircraft are being stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located near Tucson (AZ).
USAF's EA-37B will be a wide-area airborne electromagnetic attack weapon system using a heavily-modified version of the Gulfstream G550 airframe. The new Compass Call will give a military advantage into the electromagnetic battlespace and builds a more lethal force by modernising electromagnetic attack capabilities to deny peer competitors’ tactical networks and information systems. A total of ten aircraft are planned to be inducted into the USAF's inventory.
With the help of aviation friend Ian Carroll, Scramble can provide some more information about the particular EA-37B airframes. It is believed that the following aircraft are destined for the USAF:
Credit photo: USAF