Electronic Warfare
EA-18G Growler (ALQ-99 / NGJ) vs EA-37B Compass Call
The US fields its airborne electronic attack in two complementary fleets: the carrier-based Growler and the stand-off Compass Call. The pairing clarifies how escort jamming and communications attack divide between the Navy and Air Force.
EA-18G Growler (ALQ-99 / NGJ)
Boeing (aircraft) / RTX (NGJ pods)USIn service
Airborne electronic attack aircraft
EA-37B Compass Call
BAE Systems / L3Harris (Gulfstream platform)USIn service
Airborne electronic attack aircraft
Specification comparison
| Specification | EA-18G Growler (ALQ-99 / NGJ) | EA-37B Compass Call |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Escort and stand-off radar/communications jamming | Stand-off jamming of communications, radar and datalinks |
| Legacy pods | AN/ALQ-99 family | Not publicly disclosed |
| Successor pods | AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer, public reports | Not publicly disclosed |
| NGJ bands | Mid-band fielded, low and high bands in development, public reports | Not publicly disclosed |
| Airframe | F/A-18F Super Hornet derivative | Gulfstream G550 derivative |
| Crew | 2 | Not publicly disclosed |
| Mission systems | Not publicly disclosed | BAE Systems Compass Call mission suite, public reports |
| Fleet plan | Not publicly disclosed | Ten aircraft planned, public reports |
| Predecessor | Not publicly disclosed | EC-130H Compass Call |
Values are reproduced exactly as recorded in the DroneZone systems database. Where a figure is absent from the public record, it is marked “Not publicly disclosed” rather than estimated.