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.”
U.S. Space Command leaders expressed support in recent weeks for contributions to the combatant command from all the military branches as they build space expertise and integrate it into their operations, amid a debate over how to balance the roles of the Space Force and other services’ space capabilities.