US Air Force plans E-11A BACN retirement in shift to EA-37B electronic warfare fleet
May 1, 2026
The US Air Force is moving to significantly expand its EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack fleet while phasing out its E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft, marking a clear shift towards electromagnetic warfare as a central pillar of future operations.
The development, first reported by The Aviationist, stems from budget documents submitted to Congress that outline plans to increase the EA-37B fleet to as many as 22 aircraft, while retiring the E-11A fleet by FY2028.
The move points to a recalibration of priorities as the service prepares for high-end conflict environments where control of the electromagnetic spectrum is becoming decisive.
EA-37B expansion signals US Air Force shift to electronic warfare dominance
At the heart of the shift is the EA-37B Compass Call, a next-generation airborne electronic attack platform built on the Gulfstream G550 business jet.
Designed to operate across the electromagnetic battlespace, the aircraft is tasked with denying, degrading and disrupting adversary communications, radar and navigation systems, while supporting joint and coalition forces in complex operational theatres.
The platform replaces the ageing EC-130H Compass Call fleet and brings a marked improvement in range, speed and survivability. Its mission systems are built around an open architecture that allows rapid updates, enabling the aircraft to adapt to emerging threats and evolving adversary technologies.
Unlike legacy systems, the EA-37B is also designed to integrate seamlessly into multi-domain operations, supporting tactical air, ground and special operations forces.
The aircraft can jam early warning radars and communications networks while maintaining connectivity through enhanced satellite communications and data-link systems, ensuring operational effectiveness in dynamic environments.
Rapid EA-37B deployment timeline reflects urgent operational demand
The urgency behind expanding the EA-37B fleet is underscored by the platform’s rapid transition from delivery to operational use.
The first aircraft was delivered to Air Combat Command in August 2024 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it began supporting pilot training and mission planning.
From there, the aircraft moved into operational deployments in under a year, an unusually fast progression for a new platform.
EA-37Bs have already been used in operational theatres, including missions in the Middle East, suggesting that demand for advanced electronic attack capabilities is outpacing initial procurement plans.
Senior Air Force leaders have emphasised the platform’s importance in the context of great power competition.
E-11A retirement raises questions over future of BACN communications role
In parallel, the Air Force’s plan to retire the E-11A BACN aircraft has raised questions, given the platform’s proven utility in recent conflicts.
The E-11A, based on the Bombardier Global 6000, has served as a high-altitude communications relay, linking disparate systems and enabling coordination between air and ground forces in challenging terrain.
The aircraft proved particularly valuable in Afghanistan, where mountainous geography limited traditional line-of-sight communications.
By acting as an airborne node, the BACN system ensured continuous connectivity between units, earning it the informal label of “Wi-Fi in the sky.”
Despite this, the Air Force believes advances in satellite communications, particularly the proliferation of low Earth orbit constellations, can now replicate much of the capability provided by the E-11A fleet.
In addition, more flexible, podded versions of the BACN system are being explored, allowing the capability to be distributed across multiple platforms rather than tied to a dedicated aircraft.
Compass Call modernisation underpins US Air Force electronic warfare strategy
The EA-37B programme is part of a broader effort to modernise the Air Force’s electronic warfare capabilities.
The decision to rehost the Compass Call mission from the EC-130H onto a modern business jet platform was driven by rising sustainment costs and the need to counter increasingly sophisticated threats across multiple theatres.
The new aircraft is expected to achieve initial operational capability by FY2026 and will be operated by the 55th Electronic Combat Group, the Air Force’s primary unit for airborne electronic attack missions.
