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US Air Force EC-130H retirement

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2026-09-23 17:52 UTC → 2026-09-30 09:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The US Air Force has retired its final EC-130H Compass Call electronic attack aircraft. On September 2, 2026, the last aircraft, 73-1590, completed a six-hour mission departing from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. This final sortie included a formation flight with its successor, the EA-37B Compass Call. Following the final flight, an official retirement ceremony was held on September 18 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. This marks the end of more than four decades of service for the modified C-130 Hercules, which was used to jam adversary communications, radar, and navigation signals in various combat operations including the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The fleet of 14 aircraft supported missions across Central America, the Middle East, and Europe since 1981. The retired aircraft are being moved to the AMARG storage facility in Arizona. The Compass Call mission is transitioning to the EA-37B, a Gulfstream G550-based jet. The new platform offers significant operational advantages, including the ability to operate at speeds of 600 knots and altitudes of approximately 51,000 feet. The EA-37B is expected to require 30 percent fewer personnel and provides improved mobility and survivability by operating at greater distances from adversaries. The EA-37B has already seen combat deployment and missions on NATO’s eastern flank. Both the legacy and new systems utilize equipment developed by BAE Systems and L3Harris.

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