The EA-37B was added to the list of assets involved in Operation Epic Fury, although the aircraft have not yet arrived in the CENTCOM AOR.
Following the arrival of two EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft have arrived at RAF Mildenhall, UK, on Mar. 31, 2026, the U.S. Central Command has now confirmed that the assets will be employed in Operation Epic Fury. This new development thus confirms that this will be the type’s first operational deployment.
The aircraft was added to the list of the U.S. assets employed in Operation Epic Fury as part of the latest update released on Apr. 1. The aircraft, however, have not yet arrived in CENTCOM’s Area or Responsibility (AoR).
Operation Epic Fury: April 1st Update pic.twitter.com/HfMcpjU2mZ
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 2, 2026
In fact, both aircraft, which flew with the callsigns AXIS41 and AXIS43, were last recorded on flight tracking websites upon the arrival at Mildenhall. Local spotters similarly confirmed to us that the aircraft have left the base only at 14.00LT on Apr. 2, 2026.
The aircraft departed on Mar. 30 from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and arrived in the UK after a fuel stop at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The deployment immediately caught the eye of flight trackers, who also noted the rumors about two EC-130H Compass Call aircraft possibly being damaged in Middle East.
USAF EA-37B #AXIS41 & #AXIS43 out of Davis–Monthan AFB are inbound to RAF Mildenhall after a stop at McGuire AFB.
19-1587 / #AE17CD
17-5579 / #AE142E pic.twitter.com/3QqHtFgqJS— EISNspotter (@EISNspotter) March 31, 2026
While not confirmed, it was reported that the two EA-37s, after leaving the UK, might be headed to Turkey. One of the indications noted by spotters was a Boeing 747-400 belonging to Kalitta Air, which usually flies transport missions on behalf of the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).
The aircraft landed at Davis-Monthan on Mar. 30, and was said to be scheduled to fly to Istanbul, according to flight trackers. Indeed, the aircraft departed on Apr. 1 and flew to Istanbul with a “Camber” (CMB) callsign, as usual for USTRANSCOM flights, although it is unclear if that will be the final deployment destination.
EA-37’s Role in Epic Fury
The EA-37B will join the already large variety of capabilities that have been put in action for Operation Epic Fury.
When it recently deployed to Europe for a roadshow in January 2026, the Air Force said the EA-37 was not yet operational. It is unclear if this has changed, as the service previously said the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is expected for this year.
“Now in our 5th week of the campaign, it is my operational assessment that we are making undeniable progress. We don’t see their navy sailing. We don’t see their aircraft flying, and their air and missile defense systems have largely been destroyed.” – Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM… pic.twitter.com/cTHgYJDxCF
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 2, 2026
The aircraft is meant to provide electronic attack effects that help protect U.S. and allied forces in contested environments, while also complicating an adversary’s – in this case Iran’s – ability to coordinate and control forces. The Air Force described the Compass Call as a critical enabler for achieving desired military effects, such as degrading adversarial communication, navigation and weapons systems and countering adversarial kill chains to enhance joint force survivability.
Notably, the aircraft might also work in cooperation with the RC-135 Rivet Joint, which is already deployed in the Middle East. In fact, the U.S. Air Force has been working on the integration of two its premiere airborne EW (Electronic Warfare) and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) assets.
The goal is to bring together the sensing and intelligence capabilities of the RC-135 with the electronic attack functions of the EA-37B to evolve the way the Air Force fights in the electromagnetic spectrum. With the RC-135 already deployed in the Middle East, flying combined sorties similarly to the ones flown in the U.S. would be straightforward.
“The synergistic integration of Rivet Joint’s intelligence gathering with Compass Call’s electronic warfare capabilities has proven to be a game-changer on the modern battlefield. We’re not simply flying sorties; we’re creating a new paradigm. By refining tactics, techniques, and procedures, we’re ensuring our forces maintain a decisive advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum,” said Capt. Jasmine Harris, 38th RS, weapons & tactics flight commander.
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