Davis-Monthan AFB Gets Aircraft Replacing EC-130Hs Serving Since 1981

The U.S. Air Combat Command (ACC) announced it has taken delivery of its first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

The EA-37B is a wide-area airborne electromagnetic attack weapon platform that uses an extensively modified version of the Gulfstream G550 airframe. This first aircraft was delivered by ACC commander Gen. Ken Wilsbach. It is assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group and will be flown by the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron. Although based at Davis-Monthan, the 55th ECG reports to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB in Nebraska. Maintenance will be performed by the Contractor Logistics Support Aircraft Maintenance team at Davis-Monthan.

The new electronic warfare platform replaces the aging EC-130H aircraft. The EC-130H are based on the Lockheed C-130 airframe and have been in service since 1981. The EA-37 is more modern, cost-effective, and more capable. It provides increased range, speed, agility, and will enable crews to make real-time adaptive decisions for air power. The aircraft is capable of denying, degrading, and disrupting communications, information flow, navigation, and radar systems of adversaries, diminishing their combat capabilities.

Gen. Wilsbach said, “For a pilot, there is nothing better than picking up a brand new aircraft from the factory and delivering it to the warfighters. For those of you who are going to get to fly it, it’s going to be amazing. We are on the cusp of delivering advanced capability, especially in electronic combat, and today is an exciting day for Air Combat Command.”

FMI: www.af.mil/News/