Italy equips civilian Gulfstream G550 with EW systems

10 April, 2023 EC-37B Compass Call II aircraft. Photo from open sources. The Italian Air Force plans to equip two civilian Gulfstream G550 jets with electronic warfare systems, with the option of expanding the order for a third aircraft.

According to Defense News, two previously ordered aircraft by Italy will be equipped with Compass Call variant electronic warfare systems, which will bring them to the EC-37B EW aircraft level. This was reported by Defense News source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The task of these aircraft will be the electronic suppression of enemy systems in airspace: jamming enemy control systems, communication, and electronic reconnaissance.

Last year, the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Air Force, General Luca Goretti, said that the service wants to convert six aircraft into electronic attack and early warning versions, without providing additional details.

EC-37B Compass Call II aircraft with the number N967GA. August 2021. Photo credits: Dovan Kim (Ksavspotter)

EC-37B

EC-37B is an electronic warfare aircraft developed by L3Harris on the basis of a modified Gulfstream G550 civilian business jet in the interests of the United States Air Force.

The first prototype aircraft was built back in 2017. In October 2021, the upgraded aircraft made its first flight. The electronic warfare system installed on the aircraft is not new and is already used on American EC-130H EW aircraft.

Compass Call, created by BAE Systems, is designed to complicate the coordination of the enemy during combat, disrupting and interfering with its communications, radars, and navigation systems. EC-37B received a modular open architecture that, according to L3Harris, "will ensure the rapid integration of new technologies and reduce the total cost of future upgrades."

The G550 aircraft platform, on which the EC-37B is built, has a cruising speed of 1050 km/h and a range of 9,800 km, which significantly exceeds the characteristics of the C-130.

For comparison, the latter has a cruising speed of 482 km/h and a range of 3690 km, which is more than twice as long.

Greater maneuverability and operational radius of the aircraft provide improved survivability and new capabilities in terms of duration of operations.