BAe Systems EC-37B Compass Call

Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA)

United States | 2023

"The BAe Systems-L3Harris EC-37B is set to serve as the next Electronic Warfare platform for the USAF."

Image from official BAe Systems press release.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/13/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) remain critical components across the modern, digital-centric battlespace, actively blinding enemy radar and Command and Control (C2) services through advanced onboard systems. The United States Air Force (USAF) has made extensive use of such platforms for decades and is set to introduce its latest "tool in the toolbox" through adoption of the EC-37B "Compass Call". The EC-37B underwent its Initial Design Review (IDR) in 2017 and is expected to be formally introduced into active service by the USAF during 2024.

The new aircraft succeeds an aging fleet of EC-130H Compass Call platforms in same over-battlefield role, this older aircraft based in the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport.

While the airframe of the EC-37B is an original design from BizJet-maker Gulfstream Aerospace, the project (and applicable electronics) is headlined by defense industry powerhouse BAe Systems with integration handed by L3Harris (L3 Communications).

At its core, the aircraft is a modified Gulfstream G550 twin-jet and retains its exceptional straightline performance and operating range. The design sees a traditional side-by-side cockpit arrangement set aft of a sloped nosecone assembly, tubular fuselage, and "T-style" tail unit with high-mounted horizontal planes. The mainplanes are low-mounted along the fuselage sides and capped by fuel-saving winglets. A retractable, all-wheeled undercarriage is used for ground-running. The engines are set well-aft in the design along wingstubs positioned behind the passenger cabin (as a noise reduction measure) and ahead of the vertical tail plane.

The G550 series was introduced to market in 2004 and continues to see widespread global use today (2023).

In the EC-37B, the aircraft adds fuselage "bulges" to either side in help increased internal volume and incorporates a series of antenna and sensor protrusions along its ventral and dorsal lines. Over the nose is identified another sensor fit, this one forward-looking. Systems modularity will be in-built allowing the base EC-37B aircraft to be upgraded as technology (and USAF operating budget) allow in future decades.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

September 2023 - BAe Systems / L3Harris have delivered the first EC-37B airframe to the USAF.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the EC-37B Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA).

2 x Rolls-Royce BR170 C4-11 non-afterburning turbofan engines developing 15,385lb of thrust each unit.
Propulsion

652 mph
1,050 kph | 567 kts
Max Speed

52,493 ft
16,000 m | 10 miles
Service Ceiling

7,767 miles
12,500 km | 6,749 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the EC-37B Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA).

12
(MANNED)
Crew

95.1 ft
29.00 m
O/A Length

91.9 ft
(28.00 m)
O/A Width

51,809 lb
(23,500 kg)
Empty Weight

96,011 lb
(43,550 kg)
MTOW

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the BAe Systems EC-37B Compass Call family line.

EC-37B - Base Series Designation.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the BAe Systems EC-37B Compass Call. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): BAe Systems / L3Harris - USA

[ United States (planned) ]

1 / 1

Image of the BAe Systems EC-37B Compass Call

Image from official BAe Systems press release.

Going Further...
The BAe Systems EC-37B Compass Call Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) appears in the following collections:

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