Air Force Flies Last EC-130H Compass Call Before Retirement

The U.S. Air Force's last remaining EC-130H Compass Call completed its final flight this week. It flew in formation with an EA-37B, the modified Gulfstream 550 that will replace it for electronic attack missions. A photo release from the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona showed the two aircraft together for the first time.

The EC-130H first flew in 1981 and entered service the following year. It is built on a heavily modified C-130H Hercules airframe and carries systems designed to disrupt enemy communications, radar, and navigation signals. According to the 355th Wing, EC-130H crews logged more than 76,000 combat hours over the past two decades. The aircraft is powered by four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines and can reach speeds up to 300 mph.

Air & Space Forces Magazine confirmed that the aircraft flown this week was the last EC-130H in the active inventory. A formal retirement ceremony is scheduled for September 18 at Davis-Monthan, where the 55th Electronic Combat Group operated the type. After that, the remaining airframes will join other retired Compass Calls in the base's boneyard.

The Air Force is transitioning the Compass Call mission to the EA-37B, a business jet-based platform. The 355th Wing described the formation flight as symbolizing the continuation of a combat capability that disrupts adversary command and control networks.