G550-Based Electromagnetic Attack Platform Impresses

British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company BAE Systems and American defense contractor and information technology services provider L3Harris Technologies have jointly delivered the first of ten EC-37B Compass Call aircraft to the U.S. Air Force.

The service will presently commence formal combined developmental and operational testing of the aircraft.

Deriving of Gulfstream’s popular and eminently-capable G550 commercial jet, the EC-37B marks the latest embodiment of the USAF’s ongoing mission to effectively employ Electromagnetic Attack (EA) capabilities in support of U.S. and coalition air, surface, and special operations forces.

The Compass Call Airborne Electromagnetic Attack mission system—which disrupts enemy communications, radars and navigation systems, and suppresses enemy air defenses by preventing the transmission of essential information between adversaries, weapon systems and command-and-control networks—is produced by BAE at the company’s Hudson, New Hampshire facility.

The integration of the Compass Call Airborne Electromagnetic Attack mission system with late-model Gulfstream G550 aircraft is accomplished by L3Harris at its Waco, Texas aircraft missionization center. By dint of the G550’s superb performance, the EC-37B affords operators increased speed, endurance, and service-ceiling by which to deliver EA effects.

Dave Harrold, vice-president and general manager, countermeasure and electromagnetic attack, BAE Systems, stated: “The delivery of the first EC-37B Compass Call is a major milestone for our customer’s electromagnetic attack capabilities. We take pride in delivering this critical EW capability to keep the U.S. at the vanguard for defense and deterrence.”

Jason Lambert, president, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, L3Harris, remarked: “Our team accomplished the incredible challenge of migrating the Compass Call mission equipment from the much larger EC-130H and fully integrating it into the Gulfstream G550 platform. As the Air Force sunsets its forty-year-old EC-130H fleet, the cutting-edge EC-37B will empower the customer to continue serving its vital electromagnetic warfare mission for generations to come.”

FMI: www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ec-37b-compass-call