The U.S. Air Force is replacing its aging EC-130H Compass Call aircraft with the new EA-37B, a modified Gulfstream business jet built for electronic warfare.
The EA-37B can fly faster, higher, and farther than the old Compass Call while carrying powerful equipment used to jam, disrupt, and degrade enemy radar, communications, and command-and-control systems. In a future war with China, Russia, or another advanced military, that kind of electromagnetic warfare could be just as important as missiles, fighters, or bombers.
In this episode, we break down what the EA-37B actually does, why the Air Force is betting on a business jet for one of its most important electronic attack missions, how it compares to the EC-130H and Navy EA-18G Growler, and why some experts think the Pentagon may still need more electronic warfare aircraft than it plans to buy.
00:00 – Intro
00:55 – Electromagnetic warfare and why it’s so important
03:21 – What is the EA-37B
08:16 – Why we need the EA-37B
10:59 – The budget battle
13:27 – The history of Air Force Electronic Warfare and the GWOT
18:00 – Channel updates
Recorded on: June 18, 2026
Written by: David Roza
Edited by: Savvy
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