OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- The 55th Wing executed two historic EA-37B Compass Call roadshows across the Indo-Pacific last fall, demonstrating the Air Force’s ability to project advanced electromagnetic warfare capability alongside allies and partners in the region.
The roadshows were conducted as two separate trips and included stops at Kadena Air Base, Japan and Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh, Australia. Together, the visits connected joint and allied planners and operators directly with the EA-37B program team and initial cadre, strengthening interoperability and helping ensure the platform is ready to deliver combat-credible effects as it transitions into operational service.
The roadshows reinforced confidence that the United States is fielding next-generation capabilities for modern conflict and working side by side with allies and partners to ensure they are ready when needed. The roadshows also highlighted the United States’ ongoing commitment to combined readiness and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
What is the EA-37B Compass Call?
The EA-37B is the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation precision airborne electromagnetic attack platform. Based on a heavily modified Gulfstream G550 airframe, the EA-37B is designed to provide electronic attack effects that help protect U.S. and allied forces in contested environments and complicate an adversary’s ability to coordinate and control forces.
With its range, speed and endurance, the EA-37B offers commanders flexibility for sustained electromagnetic warfare options across a wide operating area and supports the Joint Force’s ability to fight through disruption.
Col. Aaron Gray, 55th Wing commander, emphasized the strategic importance of demonstrating credible capability and combined readiness across the Indo-Pacific.
“The EA-37B represents the cutting edge of electromagnetic warfare,” Gray said. “Its ability to disrupt adversary networks while ensuring our forces can operate unimpeded is vital for modern warfare. These flights across the Indo-Pacific strengthen relationships and validate Compass Call capabilities in theater, ensuring we remain relentless and ready.”
Replacing the EC-130H: A leap forward in agility
Assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the EA-37B is replacing the EC-130H Compass Call, modernizing the Air Force’s electronic warfare enterprise with a more survivable, technologically advanced solution designed for high-end conflict.
The Compass Call mission set remains central to joint operations, and the platform’s modernization reinforces the Air Force’s commitment to delivering capabilities that can adapt to evolving threats. Built with an open-architecture approach, the system supports rapid integration of new capabilities to counter emerging technologies and tactics.
Col. Jeremy Smith, 55th Electronic Combat Group commander, said the transition improves readiness and strengthens combat credibility.
“The EA-37B isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a leap forward in how we approach electronic warfare,” Smith said. “Its flexibility and adaptability allow us to stay ahead of adversaries who are constantly evolving their technologies. By replacing the EC-130H with the EA-37B, we are positioning the 55th Wing to meet the challenges of modern warfare head-on.”
Training and preparation: Proving readiness in a strategic theater
The roadshows were enabled by deliberate training, preparation and cross-unit coordination across the 55th Wing and the EA-37B community. Aircrews from the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron completed specialized training to master the platform and validate procedures required to integrate with joint and coalition partners across the Indo-Pacific.
For the team, the roadshows were more than a visit — they were an opportunity to demonstrate readiness, exchange best practices and build shared understanding with the very partners the platform would support in a future contingency.
Lt. Col. Jesse Szweda, 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron commander, said the trips provided a chance to apply training in a real-world environment and reinforce the warfighting mindset behind the platform’s introduction.
“The EA-37B requires specialized training, and our aircrews have been put through an extensive spin-up to ensure that we can leverage all of its capabilities,” Szweda said. “These flights were a real-world test of everything we’ve practiced at home, and the Compass Call has shown it is more than capable of meeting the demands of the modern battlefield.”
Connecting with key partners across the Pacific
In addition to the primary international stops, the roadshows enabled engagement with key U.S. stakeholders across the theater. Discussions included engagements with the 55th Wing’s 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron at Kadena Air Base, operators at the 613th Air Operations Center in Hawaii and leadership from the 36th Wing in Guam.
These touchpoints allowed planners and operators to better understand how the EA-37B will support joint and coalition operations, while providing the program team direct feedback on theater requirements, integration expectations and interoperability considerations.
Strengthening partnership with Australia
The EA-37B’s December 2025 visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh capped a landmark year in the 55th Wing’s growing partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force. That momentum began in July 2025, when the wing’s RC-135 Rivet Joint participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre for the first time, establishing trust through multinational operations. Building on that foundation, the inaugural Compass Call visit advanced cooperation on the ground as RAAF No. 10 Squadron hosted the EA-37B. U.S. and Australian teams aligned procedures, exchanged capability briefs, and reinforced interoperability priorities—demonstrating a shared readiness to operate together as the Indo-Pacific security environment grows more complex.
Global Reach: Projecting power and resolve
The EA-37B roadshows were designed to increase shared understanding of the platform’s role in modern conflict and strengthen interoperability among joint and allied partners. By improving coordination and readiness in the electromagnetic spectrum, the Compass Call community supports the Joint Force’s ability to operate effectively in contested environments.
Ultimately, the roadshows delivered a clear strategic message: the United States is fielding advanced capabilities, training to a high standard and operating alongside allies and partners to ensure security, freedom and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. That combination — credible capability, proven readiness and coalition integration — strengthens our strategic position and reinforces the confidence of the American public in the nation’s ability to defend its interests.
Relentless & Ready.