A ballistic missile attack launched by Iran damaged two US EC-130H Compass Call aircraft, specialized in electronic warfare.
The information was revealed on the basis of satellite images from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which show that at least one of the planes has suffered significant damage and requires extensive repairs.
These EC-130H aircraft are considered rare in the US Navy and were already operating in limited numbers at the time of the attack. The episode could further reduce the availability of this type of aircraft, which plays a strategic role in military operations. Additional reports indicate that the same attack may have also destroyed an E-3 Sentry aircraft, injured more than ten soldiers and damaged tanker aircraft.
Based on the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, the EC-130H Compass Call is designed for electronic warfare, where it can disrupt enemy communications and disrupt command and control systems. The model was introduced during the Cold War and has been used in conflicts such as the Gulf War as well as operations in the Middle East and the Balkans.
Despite its historical and operational importance, the aircraft is today considered obsolete. The US has therefore begun to replace it with the EC-37B, a more modern version based on a business jet, reflecting the evolution of technological requirements in electronic warfare.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @BabakTaghvaee1 | This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors
BREAKING: Unfortunately, two of the world’s last operational EC-130H Compass Call aircraft of the United States Air Force, deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, have also been damaged as a result of a ballistic missile strike by the IRGC Aerospace Force.
Both… pic.twitter.com/99bJtBVflX
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) March 27, 2026
