Aerial Warfare

US State Department Approves $680 Million Sale of EA-37B Mission System to Italy

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U.S. Air Force EA-37B Banshee’s Compass Call system Fleet
U.S. Air Force EA-37B Banshee’s Compass Call system Fleet

The U.S. State Department has greenlighted a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy, which will see the European nation acquire advanced Electronic Attack (EA) capabilities for an estimated $680 million. Italy’s acquisition centers on the EA-37B Banshee mission system, an advanced electronic warfare platform designed to disrupt adversarial command, control, and communication networks. The system is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including the following subsystems: Network Centric Collaborative Targeting (NCCT), Radio Frequency Receivers (RFR), Software-defined Radios (SDR), Counter Radar Assembly, AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 Radios, various encryption and secure communication systems. This sale is aimed at bolstering Italy’s ability to meet both present and future threats, especially in environments where electronic warfare and command-disruption capabilities are critical.

As a longstanding NATO ally, Italy plays a crucial role in maintaining political stability and economic progress in Europe. The integration of the EA-37B system into Italy’s air forces will not only augment their defensive and offensive electronic warfare capabilities but also strengthen NATO’s collective security posture. This advanced electronic warfare aircraft, based on the Gulfstream G550 platform, provides Italy with the ability to disrupt enemy communications and radar systems, suppress air defenses, and dominate the electromagnetic battlespace. The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft produced by Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The first entered U.S. Air Force service in 2024, with the delivery of the third aircraft marking a significant milestone.

The first EC-37 Compass call delivered to the Air Force for testing next to an EC-130 Compass Call. (Photo by L3Harris)
The first EC-37 Compass call delivered to the U.S. Air Force for testing next to an EC-130 Compass Call electronic attack aircraft. (Photo by L3Harris)

BAE Systems, headquartered in Hudson, New Hampshire, serves as the primary contractor for the mission system. The EA-37B Banshee’s Compass Call system allows it to deny, degrade, and disrupt enemy communications, radars, and navigation systems, rendering their command-and-control networks inoperable. This capability is crucial for operations where neutralizing enemy air defenses and disrupting their decision-making processes is paramount.
Platform integration prime L3Harris integrated the EC-130H Compass Call mission system into a modern Gulfstream G550. The EC-37B has increased speed, endurance and high-altitude operation for improved survivability and range to deliver EA effects. The ongoing collaboration between these defense giants ensures that Italy’s EA-37B fleet will be equipped with the latest in electronic attack technologies, ready to counter emerging threats.

As part of Italy’s multiyear defense planning for 2022-2024, outlined in the Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa, the Italian government is advancing its P-MMMS (Piattaforma Multi-Missione, Multi-Sensore) program, which includes the acquisition of Gulfstream G550-based CAEW/BM&C and new Electronic Warfare capabilities. The program aims to enhance Italy’s C4ISTAR architecture and support future multi-domain operations. The Italian Air Force has already acquired two G550 CAEW aircraft, and the plan includes converting additional “green base JAMMS” airframes into Full Mission Capable (FMC) CAEW and Electronic Combat variants. The first tranche of the JAMMS program, valued at €1.2 billion, includes the purchase of two FMC aircraft and six green airframes, with a further €925 million allocated for modifying four of these into operational configurations.

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