The EA-37B’s purpose doesn’t readily ignite public fascination. Nevertheless, this aircraft will play a crucial part in shaping the Air Force’s upcoming operational landscape.
According to inside information, the Air Force might be thinking about increasing their purchase of EA-37B electronic warfare planes.
The Air Force plans to purchase ten EA-37B aircraft—which are variants of the Gulfstream G550—to take over from the aging EC-130H Compass Call fleet. However, recent research indicates that these ten planes might not suffice; they propose needing up to twenty EA-37Bs instead. Interestingly, this greater demand seems to come from BAE and L3Harris, who handle the development and integration of the EA-37B’s electronic systems, respectively.
Initially, the Air Force required 12 EA-37 aircraft. However, due to financial constraints, this number was reduced to 10. Air & Space Forces Journal reported Now, both BAE and L3Harris are urging the Air Force to increase their purchase of an aircraft designed to conduct jamming operations, execute electronic attacks, suppress enemy air defenses, and possibly manage Collaborative Combat Aircraft functions.
The EA-37B has mostly stayed out of the limelight. Compared to many military aviation projects like the B-21 Raider, F-35 Lightning II, or others, this aircraft derived from a civilian plane isn’t particularly unusual or mysterious. the new F-47 NGAD .
The scale of the EA-37B program isn’t particularly noteworthy either. A purchase order for just ten planes falls short of typical Air Force acquisition benchmarks. Moreover, the EA-37B’s mission doesn’t exactly stir up popular interest; electronic warfare is quite specialized and lacks the clear impact seen from fighters or bombers. You won’t find anyone at Top Gun training to operate an EA-37B.
Even so, the EA-37B will serve an important function in the Air Force’s future mission profile. The new jet will be tasked with disrupting enemy communications, radars, and navigation systems. Moreover, the EA-37B will be able to participate in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). In all, the EA-37B should make it harder for U.S. adversaries to operate cohesively, and therefore safer for other U.S. and allied aircraft to operate.
The EA-37B is an altered variant of the Gulfstream G550 This refers to a high-end business jet with a price tag of approximately $60 million. Although the Gulfstream G550 is no longer in production, the Air Force managed to acquire the final few units built brand-new. Additionally, they "zero-timed" several others through rigorous inspections and renovations. Even though manufacturing has ceased, the Air Force anticipates sourcing enough parts from readily available "donor candidate" G550s on the market.
The most noticeable change in the EA-37B compared to the G550 is the inclusion of sizable antenna arrays attached seamlessly along both sides of the aircraft body. Additional alterations encompass Network-Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT) systems, System Control and Monitoring subcomponents, Radio Frequency Receiver (RFR) units, Software-defined Radio (SDR) assemblies, as well as a Counter Radar Assembly and further enhancements.
As the EA-37B becomes operational, the EC-130H Compass Call Will be phased out. The EC-130H, a significantly adapted variant of the C-130 Hercules, was initially provided to the Air Force back in 1982 and has been serving valiantly for more than four decades.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image : Wikimedia Commons.