Two EA-37B aircraft were spotted in Europe only days after reports that two similar planes had been damaged in Operation Epic Fury.
The US Air Force has deployed one of its most advanced electronic warfare aircraft to Europe. In the weeks to come, there is a strong possibility that that plane—the EA-37B Compass Call—will make its operational debut in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
Two EA-37B Compass Call Aircraft Spotted in Europe
The Air Force is moving two Compass Call aircraft toward the Middle East, according to the open-source data reviewed by The Aviationist. The two aircraft were spotted refueling at RAF Mildenhall, a key airbase in the United Kingdom that is currently hosting the largest forward-deployment of US strategic bombers in recent history. This marks the first operational deployment of the aircraft, which entered service.
Though the Air Force is understandably tight-lipped about the two aircraft, they are likely heading toward the Middle East to support the war with Iran. Recent Iranian strikes against US air bases across the region may have damaged two EC-130H electronic warfare aircraft—also given the moniker of “Compass Call”—meaning that the Air Force must call in substitutes.
The EA-37B Compass Call’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2024
- Number Built: 5 (US Air Force only); 10 planned
- Length: 96 ft 5 in (29.4 m)
- Wingspan: 93 ft 6 in (28.5 m)
- Weight: 48,300 lbs (21,908 kg)
- Engines: Two Rolls Royce BR700-710 C4-11 turbofans, each producing 15,385 pounds of thrust
- Top Speed: 767 mph (1,235 km/h) / Mach 0.82
- Range: 4,410 nautical miles (5,075 miles; 8,167 km)
- Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
- Loadout: Compass Call electronic warfare system
- Aircrew: Two pilots, plus mission crew up to seven (crew size varies depending on the specific mission)
What’s So Special About the “Compass Call” Planes?
The EA-37B Compass Call is a wide-area airborne electromagnetic attack weapon aircraft based on a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet aircraft. What makes the aircraft special is its Compass Call system.
The Compass Call system is an airborne tactical electronic attack weapon system. The electronic warfare system is designed to disrupt an adversary’s command and control communications, radar functions, and navigation systems, thereby directly limiting adversary coordination and effectiveness on the battlefield.
In the past, the Air Force installed it on a modified variant of the venerable C-130 Hercules transport aircraft under the designation EC-130H Compass Call.
According to the Air Force’s official mission statement for the electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-37B “sustains Joint Force military advantage in the electromagnetic battlespace and builds a more lethal force by modernizing electromagnetic attack capabilities to deny peer competitors’ tactical networks and information ecosystems. The [Compass Call] system denies, degrades and disrupts adversary communications, information processing, navigation, radar systems and radio-controlled threats.”
Electronic warfare is a key component of modern warfare, but is often overlooked because it is often perceived as arcane—particularly when compared with the kinetic effects of fighter jets and strategic bombers.
The EA-37B belongs to a very fine group of aircraft indeed. It is one of the very few dedicated electronic warfare aircraft in the US military, alongside the EC-130H, the EA-18G Growler, and the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. Although other aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II, can perform electronic warfare functions on the battlefield, the aforementioned four aircraft are specifically designed and equipped for the mission.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglouis a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operationsand a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
