EA-37B Compass Call
| EA-37B Compass Call | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Role | Electronic Attack |
| Manufacturer | Gulfstream Aerospace L3 Harris |
| Management and usage | United States Air Force |
| Service | 55th electronic combat group |
| Number built | 1 out of 10 total planned |
| History | |
| Developed from | Gulfstream G550 |
The EA-37B Compass Call (formerly EC-37B) is an Electronic Attack aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 entering service with the United States Air Force with the first example delivered on August 23, 2024 to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for crew training.[1] The plane is replacing the EC-130H Compass Call.
The jet will be able to conduct jamming of radars, electronic systems and communications. It will also be able to participate in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission by disrupting an enemy’s ability to coordinate sensors and command-and-control weapon batteries that target friendly aircraft.[1]
History
[edit]
On Oct. 23 2018, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson approved Air Combat Command's request to replace the the EC-130H Compass Call aircraft from the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, with EA-37B aircraft (then known as EC-37B). The basing decision memo was signed on Nov. 15, 2018. The first airframe was delivered to the air force in September 2023 for evaluation and testing.[2]
On Aug. 23, 2024, the first ready aircraft (serial number 19-5591) was delivered to Davis-Monthan AFB to begin pilot training.
Designation
[edit]Originally designated EC-37B, as an electronic warfare version of the C-37B transport jet under the tri-service aircraft designation system. The designation was officially changed to EA-37B on Nov. 14, 2023[3] to better reflect the aircraft's role and capabilities although the name change had been hinted at before.[4] The new designation does however conflict with that of the unrelated and long retired A-37 Dragonfly, itself a non-systematic designation.
Specifications
[edit]data from USAF[5]
General characteristics
[edit]- Crew : up to 9 : 2 pilots and up to seven crew members according to mission including the mission crew commander (electronic warfare officer), weapon system officer (electronic warfare officer), mission crew supervisor (an experienced cryptologic linguist), analysis operators (linguists), one acquisition operator and/or an airborne maintenance technician.
- Length : 96 feet, 5 inches (29.4 meters)
- Wingspan : 93 feet, 6 inches (28.5 meters)
- Height : 25 feet, 10 inches (7.9 meters)
- Max takeoff weight : 91,000 pounds (41,276 kilograms)
- Fuel capacity : 41,300 pounds (18,733 kilograms)
- Powerplant : 2x Rolls Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofans, 15,385 pounds of thrust each
Performance
[edit]- Speed : 629 mph (Mach 0.82)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Hadley, Greg (2024-08-27). "Air Force Delivers First EA-37 Electronic Attack Aircraft to Base". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Tirpak, John (2023-09-14). "First EC-37 Delivered for Testing; CCAs Will Complement It". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "EC-37B Mission Design Series designation change to EA-37B". Air Combat Command. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (2023-11-21). "New 'Attack' EA-37B Moniker For USAF Electronic Warfare Jets". The War Zone. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Air combat command public affairs publication