The U.S. Air Force (USAF) may need more EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft than the 10 currently planned, according to American defense contractors BAE Systems and L3Harris Technologies.
In a briefing on Monday, L3Harris and BAE officials pointed to studies indicating that 10 aircraft would be insufficient to address future threats, particularly from China. They emphasized that the USAF would need up to 20 EA-37Bs.
The EA-37B is designed to replace the EC-130H Compass Call, a Vietnam-era aircraft used for jamming enemy signals. Based on the Gulfstream G550, the new jet is faster, has a higher operational ceiling, and offers a longer range.
Outpacing our adversaries.
The U.S. Air Force’s EA-37B denies, degrades, and disrupts adversary C5ISRT capabilities, dominating the electromagnetic spectrum.
BAE Systems is proud to provide our warfighters the battlespace advantage. https://t.co/5lRMyM0MGL pic.twitter.com/9NgdYUyHZ9
— BAE Systems, Inc. (@BAESystemsInc) March 24, 2025
Equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems developed by BAE and integrated by L3Harris, the aircraft can block enemy communications, radar, and navigation signals, jam air defenses, and enable safer approaches for U.S. forces targeting adversaries.
We’re still captivated by the recent total solar eclipse passing over the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft.
Can’t wait for the next one (in the U.S.) – in 2044!
pic.twitter.com/3PbJZ6vznA
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) April 29, 2024
Originally, the Air Force planned for 12 EA-37s, but budget constraints led to a reduction to 10 aircraft.
“What we have been hearing” from the Air Force and operators is that 10 is not enough,” said David Harrold, BAE’s vice president and general manager for countermeasures and electromagnetic attack solutions.
The defense contractors have proposed expanding the planned fleet by adding four additional Compass Calls, with the first two set to be included in the Air Force’s unfunded priorities list for 2026.
“In addition to the 10 aircraft fleet, the proposal includes four aircraft to be added to the program objective memorandum in fiscal 2027,” the company said. “The proposal recommends and suggests the addition of two of those four aircraft in unfunded priorities lists in fiscal 2026.”
In the briefing, BAE andL3Harris also highlighted the growing international demand for the aircraft and noted that this could exceed domestic demand. Italy received U.S. approval to purchase an unspecified number of EA-37Bs in 2024, and other NATO and Indo-Pacific nations have shown interest.
“This isn’t just an important United States Air Force platform,” Harrold said. “It’s an ideal platform for our important allies as well. … We see the opportunity for that to be even more prolific internationally.”
The Air Force has received five EA-37Bs so far, with the final five expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2028.
