Image: from Armchair Admiral X @ArmchairAdml
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
The United States has deployed its newest electronic warfare aircraft to Europe as President Donald Trump considers expanding military operations against Iran, reinforcing American airpower in preparation for potential large-scale combat missions.
Two EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and arrived at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom on 23 July. Based on previous deployment patterns, defence analysts believe the aircraft are likely to continue to the Middle East, where the United States has been conducting sustained military operations against Iranian targets.
⚠️⚡️یک فروند هواپیمای جنگ الکترونیک EA-37B نیروی هوایی ایالات متحده وارد بریتانیا شده است.
این هواپیما برای ایجاد اختلال در سیستمهای کنترل، ارتباطات و انتقال دادههای دشمن طراحی شده است. pic.twitter.com/VBwSKIgQbx
— 👑Fereshteh Gilaki (@fereshtehgilaki) July 23, 2026
Advanced Electronic Warfare Capability
The EA-37B represents the U.S. Air Force’s latest generation of electronic warfare aircraftmage: and is designed to disrupt enemy command-and-control networks during combat operations.
The aircraft can jam:
- Enemy communications systems.
- Air defence radars.
- Navigation signals.
- Military data links.
- Other electronic emissions used to coordinate battlefield operations.
Unlike traditional strike aircraft, the EA-37B can conduct these missions from outside hostile airspace, using long-range electronic attack capabilities to degrade enemy defences before or during air operations.
The deployment follows the aircraft’s first operational use earlier this year during Operation Epic Fury, when EA-37Bs were sent to the Middle East shortly after entering active service.
Replacing a Proven Fleet
The EA-37B is gradually replacing the ageing EC-130H Compass Call, which served for decades as the Air Force’s primary airborne electronic attack platform.
The Air Force currently operates five EA-37Bs, with plans to expand the fleet to 22 aircraft over the coming years.
Their arrival significantly enhances the U.S. military’s ability to suppress sophisticated air defence networks during high-intensity conflicts.
RAF Fairford Becomes Strategic Hub
RAF Fairford has increasingly become a key staging location for American long-range operations into the Middle East.
The base already hosts approximately a dozen B-1B Lancer strategic bombers, which have remained there since the spring.
According to reports, one of those bombers carried out a strike against Iran on 21 July, marking the first combat use of an American bomber in the current conflict since April.
Military analysts believe additional bomber missions remain highly likely should hostilities continue.
Sustained US Air Campaign
The deployment comes as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces have continued conducting daily military operations against Iranian targets.
According to CENTCOM, American forces have struck dozens of Iranian military facilities while maintaining a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iran’s maritime activities.
The command also confirmed that airstrikes had continued for 13 consecutive days, demonstrating the sustained pace of the campaign.
Heavy US Military Presence
The Pentagon currently maintains approximately 50,000 American personnel across the Middle East.
Official Defence Department figures released on 22 July reported:
- 18 U.S. service members killed
- More than 480 wounded
The figures illustrate the growing cost of the ongoing military campaign as operations continue across multiple theatres.
Electronic Warfare Plays Central Role
Electronic warfare has become one of the defining elements of modern military operations, particularly against sophisticated integrated air defence systems.
In addition to the EA-37B, the United States has employed several other electronic warfare capabilities during the conflict.
These include:
- F-16 Fighting Falcons equipped with Angry Kitten electronic warfare pods.
- A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft carrying the same jamming system in its first combat deployment.
- F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters using their advanced onboard electronic warfare suites.
- EA-18G Growler aircraft, which escort strike packages while suppressing enemy radar and missile systems.
- U.S. Space Force electronic warfare assets supporting operations from space-based platforms.
Together, these systems aim to blind, confuse, and disrupt Iranian military networks before kinetic strikes take place.
Growing Logistics Effort
The deployment of the EA-37Bs forms part of a broader American military build-up across Europe and the Middle East.
Additional fighter aircraft, aerial refuelling tankers and transport aircraft have been moving continuously between Europe and forward operating bases in the region.
The steady flow of personnel, equipment and support aircraft suggests the United States is maintaining the logistical infrastructure required for sustained high-intensity operations should the conflict further escalate.
While Washington has not announced any new offensive campaign, the arrival of advanced electronic warfare aircraft alongside strategic bombers and additional support assets signals continued military readiness as tensions with Iran remain high.