U.S. Positions EA-37B Electronic Warfare Aircraft in UK for Potential Iran Operations.

The U.S. Air Force has deployed two of its newest EA,37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft from Arizona to the United Kingdom, positioning the fleet closer to the Middle East. The move strengthens Washington's ability to support potential operations against Iran with advanced electromagnetic warfare capabilities.

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine on July 23, the aircraft departed Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, transited through Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine, and arrived at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. Although U.S. officials have not confirmed the aircraft's final destination, the deployment mirrors the route used during Operation Epic Fury earlier this year, before EA-37 B aircraft entered the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The similarity has fueled expectations that the electronic warfare aircraft could soon support ongoing U.S. military operations involving Iran.

Related News: U.S. Deploys Two EA-37B Electronic Attack Aircraft to UK Ahead of Possible First Combat Mission

A U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Sept. 27, 2025. (Picture source: US DoD)

The deployment comes as U.S. military activity against Iran continues to expand. U.S. Central Command confirms that American forces have conducted thirteen consecutive days of airstrikes while maintaining maritime operations in the region. Around 50,000 U.S. military personnel remain deployed across the Middle East, supported by a growing concentration of combat aircraft, aerial refueling assets, and strategic airlift. RAF Fairford has become one of the principal staging locations for this effort, with approximately a dozen B-1B Lancer strategic bombers already operating from the base. According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, one of these bombers conducted a strike against Iran on July 21, marking the return of U.S. bomber operations in the conflict. Images published by the magazine and credited to aviation photographer Lee Hathaway documented the arrival of the two EA-37B aircraft at RAF Fairford.

The arrival of the EA-37B is noteworthy because it introduces the Air Force's newest dedicated airborne electronic attack platform into an operational theater where electromagnetic warfare has become increasingly important. Derived from the Gulfstream G550 business jet, the aircraft replaces the aging EC-130H Compass Call while offering substantially greater speed, altitude, and endurance. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710C4-11 turbofan engines, it reaches speeds of around 629 mph, operates at altitudes up to 45,000 feet, and has a range exceeding 4,400 miles. Its Compass Call Baseline 4 mission system, developed by BAE Systems and L3Harris, is designed to disrupt enemy command-and-control networks, radar systems, navigation signals, and military communications while remaining outside the engagement envelope of many surface-to-air missile systems.

Beyond its technical improvements, the EA-37B reflects the U.S. Air Force's broader shift toward electromagnetic warfare as a core component of modern air operations. Compared with the EC-130H, the new platform can reach operational areas more rapidly, remain on station longer, and benefit from an open mission architecture that allows software updates to address evolving electronic threats. Rather than relying exclusively on kinetic effects, it enables commanders to disrupt hostile military networks and reduce an opponent's ability to coordinate defensive actions, providing an additional layer of operational flexibility against both regional and peer competitors.

In the context of a potential expansion of operations against Iran, the EA-37B would serve primarily as an enabling asset for offensive air campaigns. Its mission is to degrade communications between command headquarters and frontline units, interfere with integrated air defense networks, and reduce the effectiveness of surveillance and fire control radars before and during strike operations. Such effects complicate the coordination of surface-to-air missile batteries, delay command decisions and increase the survivability of friendly aircraft operating in contested airspace. The aircraft can also disrupt military navigation systems, drone command links and other radio frequency networks supporting Iran's layered defensive architecture, reducing the overall effectiveness of the country's air defense response.

The EA-37B operates as part of a broader joint force rather than independently. It complements the F-35A Lightning II, whose onboard electronic warfare suite suppresses and deceives hostile sensors during penetration missions, as well as the U.S. Navy's EA-18G Growler, which specializes in escort jamming and suppression of enemy air defenses. The aircraft also works alongside RC-135 Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft that detect and classify hostile emitters, E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft coordinating the air battle, KC-46A and KC-135 aerial refueling tankers extending mission endurance, and B-1B bombers delivering long-range precision strikes. During the current conflict, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft have also been observed carrying Angry Kitten electronic warfare pods, illustrating the increasing integration of electronic attack capabilities across multiple combat platforms.

Although the Pentagon has not officially confirmed that the two aircraft will continue from the United Kingdom to the Middle East, the deployment closely mirrors the route followed during their first operational mission in April, when U.S. Central Command later confirmed the EA-37B's participation in Operation Epic Fury. Their arrival at RAF Fairford therefore appears consistent with the gradual reinforcement of U.S. air assets supporting CENTCOM while preserving military options for further operations against Iran.

The deployment illustrates the growing importance of electromagnetic superiority in contemporary warfare. As integrated air defense systems become more sophisticated and military operations increasingly depend on secure communications and digital networks, electronic attack platforms are evolving into indispensable force multipliers. Their presence alongside bombers, stealth fighters, and intelligence aircraft not only enhances the effectiveness of potential strike operations against Iran but also reflects the broader transformation of modern air power, where controlling the electromagnetic spectrum has become as decisive as achieving air superiority itself.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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