Compass Call

The Compass Call program is a critical Air Force initiative focused on maintaining and enhancing airborne electromagnetic attack capabilities. As detailed in the FY 2026 budget justification, Compass Call serves as a wide-area, standoff, Airborne Electromagnetic Attack (AEA) weapon system, designed to interrupt adversary use of the electromagnetic battlespace. The program's primary objective is to provide advanced command and control warfare and information operations (C2W/IO) capabilities, enabling the Air Force to surgically deny or disrupt enemy radio frequency (RF) communications, radar, and sensor systems. This capability is essential for ensuring operational superiority in contested environments and supporting current ground and airborne threat prosecution.

The EA-37B Re-host Procurement and Integration is a major goal of the Compass Call program, initiated in FY 2017 to transition mission capabilities from the legacy EC-130H airframe to the modern EA-37B platform. The EA-37B is based on a commercial derivative G550 aircraft, which is modified to host Compass Call's Prime Mission Equipment (PME) and antenna arrays. The program includes the procurement of ten EA-37B aircraft, with the first five delivered in Baseline 3 (BL3) configuration and the remaining five in Baseline 4 (BL4). This transition is justified by the aging EC-130H fleet and the need to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of electromagnetic attack capabilities.

The Modification Kit Production and Installation line item encompasses the development, production, and integration of hardware, firmware, and software kits necessary for upgrading the EA-37B aircraft. These kits enable the installation of PME and antenna arrays, as well as the certification and testing required for operational readiness. The program follows a spiral baseline upgrade schedule, allowing for concurrent developmental and production activities to expedite capability delivery to warfighters. Future spiral baseline upgrades, beyond BL3 and BL4, are planned to optimize warfighter capability and address evolving Combatant Command needs.

The Compass Call Mission Crew Simulators (CCMCS) and Weapon System Trainer (WST) are additional objectives within the program, supporting advanced training and simulation for mission crews. The FY 2026 budget includes funding for the procurement and enhancement of these training systems, as well as the System Integration Lab. These investments are aimed at improving automation, testing, and overall airborne electronic attack superiority. This ensures that personnel are fully prepared to operate and maintain the upgraded Compass Call systems.

The Obsolescence and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) Management is another key objective, with funding allocated to address issues related to aging components and supply chain risks. This includes engineering change orders, certification, non-developmental mission system upgrades, software integration and updates, systems engineering, test and evaluation, support equipment, and used aircraft modifications. By proactively managing obsolescence and DMS, the program ensures the continued reliability and effectiveness of the Compass Call fleet.

The Baseline Modifications and Upgrades are managed under specific modification numbers within the CALL00 line item. Modification Number 1003 covers the integration of BL3 and BL4 PME kits onto the ten EA-37B air vehicles, while Modification Number 1004 addresses the procurement and installation of future spiral baseline upgrade kits. These efforts are justified by the need to keep pace with rapidly changing threat environments and operational demands. The acquisition program manager may redirect funding as necessary to meet current and emerging requirements.