BAE Systems is set to equip the U.S. Air Force’s EA-37B aircraft with cutting-edge electromagnetic warfare (EW) mission systems, bolstering the fleet’s capabilities in conducting long-range electromagnetic attacks.
This enhancement, targeting aircraft 7 through 10 in the fleet, aims to disrupt and suppress adversarial use of the electromagnetic spectrum for communication, navigation, and air defence purposes.
Duane Beaulieu, Compass Call technical director at BAE Systems, emphasised the significance of the upgrade in a press release:
“The EA-37B’s unique and exquisite EW capabilities make it a powerful asset for the U.S. Air Force and coalition forces. As the EA-37B fleet comes online, the Air Force will be better equipped to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum.”
The modernisation effort involves the integration of the next-generation Baseline 4 mission systems into the EA-37B aircraft, marking a significant advancement in the U.S. Air Force’s EW capabilities. The Compass Call, recognised as the Department of Defense’s sole long-range, full-spectrum stand-off electromagnetic warfare jamming platform, is undergoing a fleet transformation, with 14 EC-130H Compass Call aircraft being replaced by 10 modernised EA-37B airframes.
The first EA-37B aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in September and is currently undergoing developmental and operational testing.
So many around the world, including the USAF, have faith in BAE expertise and products. …and the US Army bought the M777 howitzer.
A pity that our politicians couldn’t see that BAE would make a good recce vehicle (CV90 variant) for the British Army.
Agree, believe both BAE and RR are viewed favorably by USAF. Article states program will integrate Baseline 4 EW mission suite into aircraft 7-10. Anyone know the status of aircraft 1-6? 🤔
? Presume your reply is directed to GM? 🤔😁
Both 😀
Yes the good old days 😀
One hundred per cent Graham. A certain CV90 comes to mind.🙄
Big
And
Expensive
A subtle dig at BAE!
But I am mostly content with the vehicles and artillery that BAE has produced over the years.
True Sir, but, did you pay for them?
BAE should have been the preferred supplier for all things military but their track record meant competition had to be introduced.
Glasgow have glue if you need any for your nuts and bolts.
Did I pay for them? As a taxpayer for over 45 years – then, Yes! For as long as I can remember, the vast majority of MoD procurements, certainly in the Land area, have been done by competitive tender. The relatively few that are single-sourced are for very specific reasons – and there is tough scrutiny about those reasons. When I was at Abbey Wood, then preferred bidder status for a project or programme was awarded to one or sometimes two companies after other competitive tenders had been rejected following rigorous assessment. Example – CR2 LEP (later renamed to CR3)… Read more »
Hello Sir
You do understand that you are one of the few on here who can offer any insight into MoD procurement, don’t you?
CV90 MK4 is a great piece of kit on the other hand we should all be thankful that we helped the US build an even better ‘ASCOD’ at our expense; what are allies for?
Thanks David. Just in case it is of interest, my 2 years at Abbeywood as a civilian contractor immediately after leaving the army comprised 3 short-term periods of contracted work: Lead Solutions Manager on the Armoured Vehicle Support Transformation (AVST) Project, which sought to transfer more work and responsibility for in-service support from Abbeywood staff (mainly civil servants) to Defence Industry, with the lead equipment being CR2. Deputy Programme Manager for the Operational Vehicles Office overseeing the raft of PM vehs being introduced for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. PM for the Casualty Locator Beacon project in the IPT for… Read more »
Not even trying to be subtle Graham!😎
Good one! But I have not been aware that BAE’s Land equipment is much more expensive than other European defence companies offerings. Some European kit is eye-wateringly expensive ie Boxer…and was BAE’s CV90-based recce vehicle proposal so much more expensive than the GDUK Ajax one?
Hi Graham, I can’t in all honesty quote prices re BAe equipment but I am aware that they are 50-50 partners in the CTAi programme with Nexter and managed to get that weapon mandated by MOD for use in AJAX and WR, so not exactly cut off by UK MOD.
Cheers
Hi Ian, OK. MoD did not fully cut off talking to/working with BAE for a period of time, given that one somewhat minor example.
But MoD did not award the big Ajax contract to BAE, when CV90 had its fans in the army and it could be expected to be developed into a useful recce vehicle, quite quickly and without fuss and drama. [Norway signed for 21 CV90 recce wagons in 2012], and I presume they are in service and proving to be acceptable.
Absolutely agree Graham, the oink in the flyment is the machinations of the MOD and their determination to gold plate everything. I suspect that the readily available CV 90 recces would have been royally f**cked up by them.
Thanks Ian. There is a reason for the gold plating. It is an attempt to offset the small numbers of equipment now being fielded. (Quality rather than quantity). When you only order 148 tanks, but the previous post-Cold War order was for 386 tanks, then those 148 had better be just about the best in the world as they have to do more twice as much as its predecessor! Same is surely true for much of RAF and RN kit. This is very much a theoretical POV as we know that not all our kit has every defensive and offensive… Read more »
I’ve often wondered in those wee small hours how an EW platform (airborne or otherwise) doesn’t fry its own electronics when transmitting? I’m aware of hardening techniques etc but it’s still an interesting conundrum.
Over to the SME’s
cheers
Let’s buy ourselves 3 or so on the back of the USAF order