It is now becoming clear that USAF’s EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft have been key to protection of coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. They have filled more than 1,500 air support requests since November 2004. The aircraft, flying out of Bagram Air Base, are manned by members of the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. Lt. Col. Dean Worley, 41st EECS commander, says provision of electronic support is not a new thing; what is new, however, is the fact that Compass Calls are working routinely with ground units down to the battalion level and even below at times. Ask for an impact assessment from Army Brig. Gen. James Champion, head of operations for Combined Joint Task Force-76, and he says, “I can tell you soldiers rest easier knowing the EC-130s are flying overhead.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
