US deploys EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft as Trump weighs large-scale Iran operations

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The United States has deployed key new electronic warfare aircraft overseas that would be critical for a large-scale operation against Iran, as President Donald Trump publicly weighs resuming a full-scale air campaign.

EA-37B Compass Call Deployment

Two EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack aircraft deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, to RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, where they landed on July 23, according to flight tracking data and local aircraft spotters. Based on past deployments, the aircraft appear poised to head to the Middle East.

The EA-37B is the Air Force's newest electronic warfare aircraft. The jets were deployed to the Middle East in April for Operation Epic Fury, marking the first deployment of the EA-37s for real-world operations. Aging EC-130s, which the EA-37B is replacing, were deployed in the early days of the war with Iran.

The Air Force now has five EA-37s out of a planned fleet of 22. The aircraft are designed for multiple electronic warfare missions, including jamming enemy communications, radar, navigation, and other signals. In a conflict, they operate outside of an adversary's airspace, employing their standoff capabilities.

Additional Combat Aircraft at RAF Fairford

Other important combat aircraft are also stationed in Britain for potential use in the Middle East:

• Around a dozen B-1B Lancers are currently deployed to Fairford, where they have been stationed since the spring.
• On July 21, a B-1B Lancer struck Iran, Axios reported, marking the first use of a U.S. bomber in the conflict since April.
• Future bomber missions against Iran appear likely.

Ongoing Operations and Casualties

"This month, American forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land while resuming a blockade against Iran at sea," U.S. Central Command said in a July 22 statement. The U.S. conducted its 13th straight day of airstrikes on July 23, CENTCOM said.

Approximately 50,000 American troops are deployed in the Middle East. According to official Defense Department data posted July 22, 18 troops have been killed in the conflict and over 480 have been wounded.

Transit and Previous Deployment

Photos of the arrival of the EA-37s at RAF Fairford were taken by local aircraft photographer Lee Hathaway and shared with Air & Space Forces Magazine. After leaving Arizona, the aircraft made a quick stop for fuel at Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine, before continuing to the UK. During their previous deployment to the Middle East, which began in April, two EA-37s were spotted in England at RAF Mildenhall before moving onward to the Middle East.

A U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft taxis at RAF Fairford, UK, July 23, 2026. Photo by Lee Hathaway.

Electronic Warfare Capabilities in the Conflict

Jamming enemy systems is an essential mission for U.S. air operations. During the conflict with Iran, the U.S. has also used Space Force electronic warfare systems.

Additional electronic warfare assets deployed in the Middle East include:

• Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft carrying Angry Kitten electronic warfare jamming pods during combat missions, marking the first time the system has been used in a combat zone.
• F-35 Lightning II fighters, which have been heavily used in the conflict and carry robust EW systems.
• EA-18 Growlers, which carry jamming pods to escort strike aircraft and launch munitions at air defense systems.

Additional fighters and refueling aircraft have been deployed to the Middle East in recent days, and a steady stream of cargo aircraft have been heading back and forth from the Middle East and Europe.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org