US Air Force retires final EC-130H Compass Call aircraft

The US Air Force has completed the final operational flight of its last EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, marking the end of more than four decades of service for the electronic warfare platform. On September 2, aircraft 73-1590 departed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for a six-hour mission, flying in formation with the EA-37B Compass Call.

Since entering service in 1983, the EC-130H fleet was utilized to disrupt enemy communications, radar, and command and control systems. The aircraft participated in numerous military operations, including missions in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The Compass Call mission is transitioning to the EA-37B, a smaller aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 jet. The EA-37B offers higher altitudes and speeds while requiring fewer crew members. L3Harris is responsible for mission system integration, while BAE Systems provides the electronic warfare equipment. The Air Force began introducing the EA-37B in 2023, with the new model already conducting operations in the Indo-Pacific region.