An artist rendering of Italy’s EA-37B electronic attack aircraft (L3Harris)
BELFAST — The Italian military and US manufacturer L3Harris have signed off on a $300 million contract for delivery of two EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, signalling a first international sale of the platform, according to a company statement.
Announced on Monday, L3Harris said it is partnering with BAE Systems on the deal, which involves modification of Gulfstream G550 business jets “provisioned for a modern electromagnetic warfare system.”
Once modified, the new aircraft will see the Italian Air Force provided with “an airborne jamming ability with range, altitude and endurance to disrupt enemy command and control communications, radars and navigation systems from an extended distance,” added the L3Harris statement. It did not disclose an aircraft delivery timeframe.
The manufacturer is the EA-37B aircraft integrator, supported by BAE Systems production of electromagnetic attack (EA) mission systems.
“Once complete, the aircraft will join the Italian Ministry of Defence’s fleet of special mission aircraft along with the Joint Airborne Multi-Mission Multi-Sensor System (JAMMS) effort to advance the country’s airborne capabilities,” noted L3Harris.
In an accompanying statement, BAE Systems said that it had received a contract valued at $12 million for Italian EA-37B mission systems capabilities.
The company “will provide hardware to modify the aircraft, including racks, radomes, cables, and harnesses,” it said.
Italy was initially cleared [PDF] by the US State Department to buy an undisclosed number of EA-37B aircraft and associated mission systems in October 2024, through an estimated $680 million foreign military sale.
Designed for suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions, the EA-37B is also replacing legacy EC-130H planes in the US Air Force fleet. In May, the service said in a statement that a total of 10 of the incoming aircraft “are expected to be produced and assigned” to the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG), based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
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Author: Tim Martin
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