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This US Jet Can Silence Entire Battlefields—and It Just Touched Down in Europe

An EA-37B Compass Call takes its first official flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on August 28, 2024. (Source: Wikimedia)

The US Air Force has quietly brought its newest and most secretive electronic warfare aircraft to Europe, as the EA-37B Compass Call arrived at Ramstein Air Base in Germany—its first known stop on the European theater—fueling speculation about Washington’s evolving military posture amid rising global tensions.

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
News Writer

The EA-37B Compass Call, assigned to the US Air Force’s 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, landed at Ramstein Air Base as part of a planned European roadshow, according to an official statement published by US Air Forces in Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFA) on January 27.

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The deployment has drawn attention not only because it marks the aircraft’s first public demonstration in Europe, but also because it comes amid repeated signals from the current White House that European security should rely less on US guarantees.

Why this aircraft matters

Unlike conventional strike platforms, the EA-37B is a flying electronic warfare command center designed to disrupt, degrade, and paralyze enemy communications, radar, navigation systems, and radio-controlled threats.

Despite entering service, the aircraft has been presented only in broad strokes. No detailed imagery of its onboard mission workstations has been released, adding to its mystique and operational secrecy.

Linked to a high-profile covert operation

Some defense analysts have linked an EA-37B-type platform to Operation Absolute Resolve, the highly successful US special operation that led to the capture and transfer of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to the United States.

That connection was highlighted by The War Zone, which cited the aircraft’s electronic suppression capabilities as a possible enabler of the operation’s speed and precision.

Iran in the background?

Military observers also note that the aircraft’s European arrival could align with potential future operations against Iran, where electronic warfare would likely play a central role in suppressing remaining air-defense systems following last year’s US-Israeli strikes.

While US officials have made no such announcement, analysts say the EA-37B’s presence signals preparatory capability rather than imminent action.

From EC-130H to EA-37B: a new generation

According to Army Recognition, the EA-37B program originated in 2017, when the US Air Force decided to migrate the mission systems of the aging EC-130H Compass Call onto a smaller, faster, and more survivable platform.

The aircraft was initially designated EC-37B before being redesignated EA-37B in November 2023. Integration was led by L3 Technologies (now L3Harris), with mission systems developed by BAE Systems.

The final EC-130H combat sortie was flown on February 15, 2024. Ten aircraft were sold, while four more are scheduled for retirement by 2026.

Growing demand—and allied interest

US Air Force assessments suggest that the current fleet of ten EA-37Bs may be insufficient for future needs, with internal studies indicating a requirement for up to 20 aircraft.
As reported by Army Recognition, proposals to expand the fleet to at least 14 aircraft have already appeared in congressional funding discussions.

Italy has received approval to acquire two EA-37B mission system packages for integration into its Gulfstream G550 fleet, marking early international adoption. Additional interest is reportedly coming from allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Performance and technical capabilities

According to Airforce Technology, the EA-37B is based on the Gulfstream G550 CAEW airframe and offers a 50% reduction in weight and operating costs compared to the EC-130H.

Key specifications include:

  • maximum speed: Mach 0.82;

  • range: 4,410 nautical miles;

  • service ceiling: 45,000 feet;

  • crew: 2 pilots + up to 7 mission operators.

The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 C4-11 engines, each producing 15,385 pounds of thrust.

Built for the electromagnetic battlefield

As detailed by Army Recognition, the EA-37B integrates advanced systems, including:

  • SABER electronic resource management;

  • network-centric collaborative targeting;

  • software-defined radios;

  • advanced RF receivers and counter-radar nodes.

Its open-architecture SWORD-A design allows rapid upgrades and modular integration of new technologies, while secure satellite communications link it directly to US Department of Defense networks.

Why the EA-37B changes the game

“One of the most critical aspects of success in conflict is information dominance,” said US Air Force Capt. Tyler Laska, a pilot with the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron.

“Every moment of hesitation we impose on the enemy’s decision-making process increases the survivability of our men and women on the front line across every domain.”

Earlier, satellite imagery released by a Ukrainian OSINT researcher, Dnipro Osint, confirmed that Ukraine’s overnight strike on Taganrog destroyed not one, but two rare, high-value Russian aircraft at the Beriev aviation complex—one of them a one-of-a-kind laser weapons testbed.

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