Aircraft & UAVs

EA-37B Compass Call

Also known as
  • EC-37B

The EA-37B Compass Call is the U.S. Air Force's Gulfstream G550-based airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft, built by BAE Systems and L3Harris to disrupt communications, radar, navigation, and other tactical networks. The program was approved in 2018 to replace the EC-130H, first delivered in 2023, redesignated EA-37B in October 2023, and put into training sorties in 2025.

EA-37B Compass Call, Airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 1 of 5]

Role in Conflicts

2020 United States-Iran Conflict
Role in conflict
Electronic attack support

Used by U.S. forces in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict; CENTCOM listed EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft among the assets employed against Iran in Operation Epic Fury.

Mission Notes

The EA-37B keeps the Compass Call mission focused on airborne electromagnetic attack, with the sources emphasizing the Gulfstream G550 platform and a modernized mission system integration.

TopicDocumented detail
PlatformGulfstream G550 business jet
Mission systemCompass Call airborne electromagnetic attack suite
Primary effectDisrupts adversary communications, information processing, and navigation systems
Prime contractorsBAE Systems produces the mission system; L3Harris integrates the aircraft
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Crew
Up to 9
Airframe
Gulfstream G550 business jet
Mission system
Compass Call airborne electromagnetic attack suite
Power plant
Two Rolls-Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofans
Speed
767 mph (Mach 0.82)
Range
4,410 nautical miles
Ceiling
45,000 feet
Length
96 ft 5 in (29.4 m)
Wingspan
93 ft 6 in (28.5 m)
Maximum takeoff weight
91,000 lb (41,276 kg)
Variants
  • EC-37B Compass Call
Compass Call Lineage

BAE Systems and L3Harris describe the EA-37B as a rehost of the Compass Call mission equipment from the larger EC-130H onto a Gulfstream G550 platform.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
EC-130H Compass Call, Airborne electronic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsEC-130H Compass CallLegacy Compass Call aircraft

BAE Systems and L3Harris said the EA-37B migrated the Compass Call mission equipment from the much larger EC-130H into the G550-based platform.

Sources: BAE Systems and L3Harris Deliver First EC-37B Compass Call Aircraft to the US Air Force

Timeline

EA-37B Compass Call Key Events

  1. Air Force approves the Compass Call rehost

    Air Combat Command's fact sheet says the Air Force approved the request to replace EC-130H Compass Call aircraft with EA-37B aircraft, with the basing decision memo following on November 15, 2018.

    Sources: EA-37B Compass Call Fact Sheet

  2. First EC-37B delivered for testing

    BAE Systems and L3Harris delivered the first of 10 EC-37B Compass Call aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for developmental and operational testing.

    Sources: BAE Systems and L3Harris Deliver First EC-37B Compass Call Aircraft to the US Air Force

  3. Mission design series changes to EA-37B

    Air Combat Command redesignated the EC-37B as the EA-37B to better identify the platform's attack mission.

    Sources: EC-37B Mission Design Series designation change to EA-37B

  4. First ACC aircraft arrives at Davis-Monthan

    Air Combat Command received its first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for pilot training.

    Sources: First ACC EA-37B delivered to Davis-Monthan AFB

  5. First training sortie flown

    The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron flew the first mission training sortie for the EA-37B.

    Sources: EA-37B completes first training sortie

Production Funding

DoD's FY2026 mandatory funding overview lists EA-37B production as a line item in the Air Superiority request.

Budget itemAmountContext
EA-37B production$254 millionFY2026 Air Superiority request line item
Media

EA-37B Compass Call Videos

EA-37B Compass Call Images

EA-37B Compass Call, Airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 1 of 5]
EA-37B Compass Call, Airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 1 of 5]
EA-37B Compass Call, Airborne electromagnetic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3
Source: DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 1 of 5]
Related Weapon Systems
EC-130H Compass Call, Airborne electronic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsEC-130H Compass CallAirborne electronic attack aircraftThe EC-130H Compass Call is the U.S. Air Force's legacy airborne electronic-attack aircraft, a heavily modified C-130H that denies, degrades, and disrupts adversary command-and-control communications, radars, and navigation systems. Its mission crew operates permanently installed electronic-attack equipment for U.S. and coalition air, surface, maritime, and special-operations support, while the EC-130H fleet transitions to the EA-37B Compass Call successor.
EA-18G Growler, Carrier-capable airborne electronic attack aircraft, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareEA-18G GrowlerCarrier-capable airborne electronic attack aircraftThe EA-18G Growler is a Boeing-built electronic attack derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, fielded to jam, detect, and attack hostile radars, communications, and air-defense networks while retaining missile carriage for suppression missions. U.S. Navy and Australian Growlers provide carrier or land-based electronic warfare support, with early combat deployment in Iraq and Libya in 2010-2011 and later documented use in 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, Red Sea operations against Houthi forces, and the U.S.-Iran strike context.
E-11A airborne communications relay aircraft, Airborne communications relay aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsE-11A airborne communications relay aircraftAirborne communications relay aircraftThe E-11A is a modified Bombardier Global 6000/BD-700 or Global 6500 business jet used by the U.S. Air Force as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN. It relays and translates voice, imagery, tactical data links, and IP-based traffic between otherwise incompatible air, ground, maritime, and coalition networks. The type entered combat in Afghanistan in 2008, CENTCOM listed it among Operation Epic Fury assets in 2026, and nine airframes had been delivered by September 2025 even as the Air Force's FY2027 posture statement planned full divestment in FY2028.
Gulfstream G500 Nachshon Shavit, Signals-intelligence and electronic-reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsGulfstream G500 Nachshon ShavitSignals-intelligence and electronic-reconnaissance aircraftThe Gulfstream G500 Nachshon Shavit is Israel's Gulfstream V/G500-based special electronic missions aircraft, converted for Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron with IAI/ELTA mission systems for signals intelligence, electronic reconnaissance, and long-range ISR support. Official IAI material describes Shavit as the Nachshon fleet's SIGINT aircraft for monitoring the electromagnetic spectrum, while public image and fleet sources identify it as the earlier Gulfstream V/G500 member alongside the G550 Eitam and Oron aircraft.
ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareALQ-99 Tactical Jamming SystemTactical jamming pod systemThe ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System is a U.S. external-carriage airborne electronic attack pod family used to jam radar and communications targets for suppression of enemy air defenses. NAVAIR says it entered service in 1971, served on the EA-6B Prowler before transitioning to the EA-18G Growler in 2010, and remains in use alongside Next Generation Jammer pods, including documented VAQ-133 carriage during 2026 Iran War strike operations.
Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron, Multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsGulfstream G550 Nachshon OronMulti-mission intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance aircraftThe Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Oron is an Israeli special-mission aircraft that adapts a U.S.-built Gulfstream G550 business jet with IAI/ELTA radar, electro-optical, SIGINT, C4I, and AI-assisted processing systems. Operated by Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron, it gives Israel a business-jet-based wide-area surveillance and target-generation platform documented in wartime support roles over Gaza and during Israel's 2025 operations against Iran.
Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Eitam, Airborne early warning and control aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsGulfstream G550 Nachshon EitamAirborne early warning and control aircraftThe Gulfstream G550 Nachshon Eitam is Israel's conformal airborne early warning and control version of the G550 business jet, modified by Israel Aerospace Industries and ELTA with the EL/W-2085 AESA radar and mission systems. Operated by Israeli Air Force 122 Squadron, it provides airborne surveillance, battle management, and command-and-control support for air defense and long-range strike operations, including documented use during Iron Swords and the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict.

Sources

EA-37B Compass Call Fact SheetPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports EA-37B specifications, contractor background, mission, and the Gulfstream G550-based airframe. | Accessed: 2026-06-20BAE Systems and L3Harris Deliver First EC-37B Compass Call Aircraft to the US Air ForcePublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports the first-delivery date, G550 integration, EC-130H rehost context, mission-system background, and first-of-10 production context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27EC-37B Mission Design Series designation change to EA-37BPublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports the October 27, 2023 redesignation from EC-37B to EA-37B and the mission-based naming rationale. | Accessed: 2026-06-27First ACC EA-37B delivered to Davis-Monthan AFBPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the August 23, 2024 ACC delivery and pilot-training handoff at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. | Accessed: 2026-06-27DoD FY2026 Mandatory Funding OverviewPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports the FY2026 EA-37B production funding line item in the Air Superiority request overview. | Accessed: 2026-06-27EA-37B completes first training sortiePublisher: Air Combat Command | Note: Supports EA-37B early operational background and the first mission training sortie flown by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Operation Epic Fury fact sheetPublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Used by U.S. forces in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict; CENTCOM listed EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft among the assets employed against Iran in Operation Epic Fury. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 1 of 5]Publisher: DVIDS | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force photo showing an EA-37B Compass Call at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on July 24, 2025. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 2 of 5]Publisher: DVIDS | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force photo of EA-37B maintenance checks at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on July 24, 2025. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 4 of 5]Publisher: DVIDS | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force photo of an EA-37B taxiing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on July 24, 2025. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DVIDS EA-37B at DM [Image 5 of 5]Publisher: DVIDS | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force photo of an EA-37B takeoff at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on July 24, 2025. | Accessed: 2026-06-20