This list covers both currently and formerly operated electromagnetic warfare aircraft (typically airborne early warning and control aircraft) used by the United States.
As such there will be overlaps with United States command and control aircraft and United States airborne early warning aircraft.
| Name | Role | Manufacturer | Notes | Year of first flight | Introduction | Number built | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas EB-66 | Electronic warfare | Douglas Aircraft Company | Used by United States Air Force to jam North Vietnamese SAMs, MiG-21s, and anti-aircraft guns. [8] | 1965, By [8] | At least 99 [9] |  | |
| Grumman EA-6A "Electric Intruder" | Electronic warfare (EW)/Electronic countermeasures (ECW) | Grumman | Converted Grumman A-6 Intruder designed for the United States Marine Corps, designed to provide a new ECM platform to replace the EF-10B Skyknights and AD Skyraiders; it served with the USMC during the Vietnam War in 1966. [10] [11] [12] The last EA-6A had been retired by 1993. Later upgraded into the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler. [10] [12] | Unknown | 1965 [10] | 27 [13] /28 |  |
| Boeing EC-135 | Airborne Command Post, Airborne Launch Control Center, Tracking and Telemetry Platform, Airborne Radio Relay | Boeing | Developed from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. Replaced by the Boeing E-6 Mercury. | Unknown | 1965 | Unknown |  |
| Grumman EA-6B Prowler | Electronic warfare/Attack aircraft | Grumman | Improved version of the Grumman EA-6A. Replaced by the EA-18G Growler in 2015 in the U.S. Navy and was retired in March 2019 with the U.S. Marine Corps. [11] | 1968 [11] | 1971 [10] | 170 [14] |  |
| Lockheed EC-130 | Psychological and Information Operations (EC-130J) | Lockheed | One of the many variants of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. | Unknown | 1975 | 7 |  |
| Boeing E-3 Sentry | Airborne early warning and control | Boeing Defense, Space & Security | Developed from the Boeing 707-320. [15] | EC-137D: 9 February 1972 E-3: 25 May 1976 [16] | 1977 [17] | 68 |  |
| Boeing E-4 | Airborne early warning and control | Boeing | Developed from the Boeing 747-200 | 1973 | 1974 | 4 |  |
| Windecker YE-5 | Experimental stealth aircraft | Windecker Industries | Developed from Windecker Eagle | 1973 | Never | 1 | |
| Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call | Electronic warfare (EW), Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), offensive counter-information | Lockheed (airframe) BAE Systems (prime mission equipment) | One of the many variants of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. | Unknown | 1983 [18] | 14 |  |
| General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven | Electronic warfare | General Dynamics, conversion by Grumman | Developed from the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. | 1977 | 1983 | 42 [19] |  |
| Boeing E-6 Mercury/Hermes | Airborne command and control | Boeing | Developed from the Boeing 707-300; utilizes TACAMO; planned to be replaced by the TACAMO Recapitalization Program (E-XX); replaced the EC-135. [20] | 1987 | 1989 [20] | 16 |  |
| Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS | Airborne Battle Management and ISTAR | Northrop Grumman | Developed from the Boeing 707 | 1988 [21] | 1991 | 17 |  |
| A United States Air Force De Havilland Canada Dash 8 range control aircraft that ensures that the overwater military ranges in the Gulf of Mexico are clear of civilian boats and aircraft during live fire tests of air-launched missiles and other hazardous military activities. [22] [23] The 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron located at Tyndall AFB, has the only E-9A aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory. [23] | Unknown | 1988 (IOC) [23] | 2 [23] |  | |||
| Northrop Grumman E-10 MC2A | Airborne early warning and control | Northrop Grumman / Boeing Integrated Defense Systems | Based on the Boeing 767-400ER, project later cancelled. [24] | Never | Never | 0 | |
| Boeing E-767 | Airborne early warning and control | Boeing Integrated Defense Systems | Boeing E-3 Sentry's surveillance radar and air control system installed on a Boeing 767-200; used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. [25] |
| 2000 | 4 |  |
| Boeing E-7 Wedgetail | Airborne early warning and control | Boeing Defense, Space & Security | Based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation. Also known as the E-737 or Boeing 737 AEW&C | 2004 | 2012 | 14 |  |
| Boeing EA-18G Growler | Electronic warfare aircraft | Boeing | Electronic warfare version of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. It's built to replace aging EA-6B Prowlers. It also retains the Super Hornets' multi-mission and SEAD capabilities. [26] | 2006 [26] | 2009 [26] | 172 as of October 2021 |  |
| EA-37B Compass Call | USAF Gulfstream G550 fitted for Electronic Warfare to replace existing EC-130H Compass Call aircraft. [27] [28] Previously known as EC-37B, on November 14, 2023, Air Combat Command redesignated the platform as EA-37B to better identify its mission of finding and attacking enemy land or sea targets. [29] [30] | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |||
| Lockheed EP-3 | Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) [31] | Lockheed Corporation | Electronic signals reconnaissance variant of the Lockheed P-3 Orion. [31] | Unknown | 1960s, late -early 1970s [32] | 12 [32] |  |
The Lockheed Martin EC-130 series comprises several slightly different versions of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules that have been and continue to be operated by the U.S. Air Force and, until the 1990s, the U.S. Navy.
The Northrop GrummanEA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy; it was used during the Vietnam War. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consisted of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it was not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It was capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARMs), such as the AGM-88 HARM.
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne radar early warning system designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of the battlespace in aerial engagements by informing and directing friendly fighter and attack aircraft. AEW&C units are also used to carry out aerial surveillance over ground and maritime targets, and frequently perform battle management command and control (BMC2). When used at altitude, the radar system on AEW&C aircraft allows the operators to detect, track and prioritize targets and identify friendly aircraft from hostile ones in real-time and from much farther away than ground-based radars. Like ground-based radars, AEW&C systems can be detected and targeted by opposing forces, but due to aircraft mobility and extended sensor range, they are much less vulnerable to counter-attacks than ground systems.
The EC-130H Compass Call is an electronic attack aircraft flown by the United States Air Force. Based on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the aircraft is heavily modified to disrupt enemy command and control communications, perform offensive counterinformation operations, and carry out other kinds of electronic attacks. Planned upgrades will add the ability to attack early warning and acquisition radars. Based at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, EC-130Hs can be deployed worldwide at short notice to support U.S. and allied strategic and tactical air, surface, and special operations forces.
The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft produced by General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The certification designation is GV-SP. A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G500. Gulfstream ceased production of the G550 in July 2021.
Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) is the United States Navy's only EA-18G Growler training squadron. Known as the "Vikings", they are a Fleet Replacement Squadron, or FRS, and are charged with training all EA-18G aviators and developing standard operating procedures for the maintenance and operation of the aircraft. The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, in Puget Sound, Washington.
A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or "mission specialist" functions, depending on the type of aircraft. Until 1966, their duties were performed by both commissioned officer and senior enlisted naval aviation observers (NAO).
James Basil "Gib" Godwin III, a retired Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, was the Program Executive Officer – Enterprise Information Systems of the Department of the Navy. His responsibilities included oversight of the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet.
Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135), known as the "Black Ravens", is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron that currently operates the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with a radio callsign of "Thunder".
The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center was formerly known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Nevada. It is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development. NAWDC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The name was changed from NSAWC to NAWDC in June 2015 to align with the naming convention of the Navy's other Warfighting Development Centers (including Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Naval Information Warfighting Development Center, and the Undersea Warfighting Development Center.
Training Squadron EIGHT SIX (VT-86), also known as the "Sabrehawks," is a United States Navy advanced jet training squadron based at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Training Squadron 86 is a tenant command of Training Air Wing 6. They are a training squadron flying the T-45C Goshawk. Their tailcode is F and their radio callsign is ROKT.
Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 139 (VAQ-139), also known as the "Cougars", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy. They specialize in electromagnetic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Part of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, the Cougars deploy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz
The 390th Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
Naval Air Warfare Center is a research organization within Naval Air Systems Command to test and evaluate air warfare for the United States Navy. The center combines the following divisions:
Electronic Attack Squadron 209 (VAQ-209) is a United States Navy Reserve electromagnetic attack squadron. Known as the "Star Warriors", the squadron flies the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. It is assigned to the Tactical Support Wing and based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Its mission is: "To safely train to attain and maintain mobilization readiness for immediate employment in event of war or national emergency." The squadron's radio callsign is "Vader".
Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) is an electromagnetic warfare squadron of the United States Navy. It is nicknamed "Garudas" and is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The squadron is currently equipped with the Boeing EA-18G Growler.
An electronic-warfare aircraft is a military aircraft equipped for electronic warfare (EW), that is, degrading the effectiveness of enemy radar and radio systems by using radar jamming and deception methods.
The Next Generation Jammer is a program to develop an airborne electronic warfare system, as a replacement for the AN/ALQ-99 found on the EA-18G Growler military aircraft. It reached Initial Operating Capability in 2021.
The AN/ALQ-218 is an American airborne electronic warfare radar warning receiver (RWR) system, found on Grumman/Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler and Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft.
The EA-37B Banshee is an Electronic Attack aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 entering service with the United States Air Force with the first example delivered on 23 August 2024 to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base for crew training. The plane is replacing the EC-130H Compass Call.
