Aviation News – The U.S. Air Force has submitted a proposal to Congress to nearly double its order of EA-37B electronic attack aircraft while unexpectedly retiring its fleet of E-11A BACN jets by FY 2028. This strategic pivot signals a transition in military priorities as the service moves away from legacy communication platforms toward advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
The plan involves a significant expansion of the EA-37B Compass Call fleet, a platform designed to disrupt enemy communications and radar. In a move that surprised defense analysts, the Air Force intends to divest its E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft, despite the fleet having only recently settled into regular squadron service. These jets, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet airframe, were originally fast-tracked into service to solve critical connectivity issues.
Historically, the E-11A fleet was indispensable for operations in Afghanistan, where it replaced NASA WB-57 Canberra aircraft carrying prototype payloads. The mountainous terrain of the region created severe line-of-sight limitations for standard VHF and UHF radios, making coordination nearly impossible without an aerial relay. While satellite communications (SATCOM) were available, they were often deemed too expensive and cumbersome for the rapid pace of ground operations.
The E-11A functions as a “WiFi in the sky,” allowing disparate radio systems to talk to one another across rugged environments, which has a massive operational impact on ground troop coordination. However, the shift toward the EA-37B suggests a technical pivot toward offensive electronic counter-measures. By doubling down on the EA-37B, the Air Force is emphasizing the importance of suppressing sophisticated enemy air defenses rather than simply maintaining a localized communications relay.
“The mountainous terrain caused major headaches for military planners when trying to coordinate existing communications networks,” the Air Force noted in its justification, highlighting the specific environmental challenges that originally birthed the BACN requirement.
As the military looks toward FY 2028, this fleet restructuring reflects a broader preparation for “Great Power Competition,” where airspace dominance depends on electronic superiority. Defense contractors and planners will now focus on integrating these electronic attack capabilities into a more streamlined, survivable force.
