US Air Force's next-generation electronic warfare system 'Compass Call' flies near Kaliningrad, Russia

(Seoul = Yonhap News) The US Air Force's next-generation electronic warfare aircraft, EA-37B 'Compass Call', was caught flying for a long time near the border of Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian extraterritorial territory.

The U.S. military media The War Zone (TWZ) reported on the 19th (local time), citing a Polish military official, that the EA-37B had flown the day before at the border of Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian extraterritorial territory.

An online aircraft tracking site showed that the aircraft did not enter Russian airspace, but circled for about two hours in Polish airspace bordering Kaliningrad Oblast.

It is reported that the aircraft moved from Greece to Powisz Air Force Base in Poland ahead of this flight.

Polish military officials said that along with the EA-37B, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) E-3A airborne early warning and control aircraft and the US military's 'Artemis II' reconnaissance aircraft participated in the operation.

NATO explained that American and Norwegian fighter jets and Polish ground troops were also mobilized, and that the entire operation was led by the U.S. military. However, they stated that it was not an operation in response to a specific incident and that it was a routine defensive exercise.

The EA-37B is an electronic warfare aircraft that is a greatly modified version of the Gulfstream G550, a commercial business jet. It serves to reduce the enemy's detection and command capabilities by interfering with radar, communication, and navigation signals from a distance without entering enemy airspace.

Instead of attacking directly with missiles or bombs, it can use strong radio waves to disrupt the operation of opponent's equipment, and can also perform missions such as finding radio waves sent by the enemy and determining their location.

The U.S. Air Force is acquiring the EA-37B to replace the aging EC-130H electronic fighter aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered to the US Air Force in August 2024 and completed its first training flight in May of last year, and a total of 10 aircraft are scheduled to be deployed.

Kaliningrad is a Russian territory located between Poland and Lithuania, where the Russian military's main forces, including missiles and fighter jets, are deployed.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the EA-37B actually interfered with the Russian military's radar or communications during this flight, and the specific mission details have not been disclosed.