Highly modified Gulfstream EC-37B Compass Call - registration N591GA (c/n 5591) - made a brief visit to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, on August 17.
The type, based on the Gulfstream GV-SP (G550) business jet, is scheduled replace the US Air Force's (USAF's) current Compass Call airframe, the EC-130H, operated by the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) at Davis-Monthan and was visiting the unit so that it could get an update on progress with its future mount. The next-generation version will perform tactical command, control and communications countermeasures to support air, surface and special operations forces. The technology uses noise jamming to prevent communication or degrade transmission of information between enemy command and control networks.
The USAF plans to acquire a total of ten EC-37Bs, of which the first one was contracted for in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, the second in FY2018 and the third and fourth in FY2019. A fifth was financed in the FY2020 budget and a sixth requested in FY2021. The remainder were planned for acquisition at a rate of one per year through to FY2025, although on June 22 this year the House Armed Services Committee sought $883.7m in yet-to-be f…
