Two U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft have been positioned at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom and are expected to deploy to the Mediterranean as part of what military analysts describe as a signal of escalating U.S. readiness against Iran.
The aircraft, designated AXIS41 and AXIS43 and produced by L3Harris, departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona before staging through RAF Fairford, according to aviation tracking data. The route typically signals preparation for deployment to the Middle East theater, where tensions with Iran have intensified amid continued military exchanges.
Open Source Intel reports that they are currently en route to Crete.
The Compass Call, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, is designed to disrupt enemy command-and-control communications, radar systems, and navigation networks. The EA-37B was added to U.S. Central Command's Operation Epic Fury on April 1, 2026, for its first operational deployment, according to defense analysis. The aircraft represents a significant upgrade from the older EC-130H Compass Call it replaces.
No official U.S. military statement has confirmed the current aircraft's destination. However, defense analysts note that electronic warfare assets of this type are rarely deployed without a clear operational purpose, typically accompanying larger air operations requiring disruption of hostile command networks.
The deployment comes as the U.S. maintains heightened military presence across the Persian Gulf region. U.S. Central Command said recent strikes were designed to further degrade Iran's ability to restrict oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil supplies.
