A NATO EA-37B aircraft spent almost two hours conducting reconnaissance near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad from Polish airspace, according to the defense publication The War Zone.
The War Zone reported that the aircraft is equipped with powerful active radar antenna arrays designed to provide electronic warfare support from a distance, including countering enemy radars and communication systems. The aircraft also features additional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, allowing it to detect, track, and locate various types of radiation sources.
The EA-37B Compass Call is a specialized electronic attack aircraft based on a heavily modified Gulfstream business jet. It is designed to disrupt enemy command and control networks, radar systems, and navigation infrastructure.
First flights near Russia
The publication noted that the EA-37B might be the most powerful airborne platform in the world for collecting military data on potential adversaries. The flight marked the first time the aircraft has been observed operating in airspace close to Russia.
According to the portal, the aircraft could play a crucial role in mitigating the military impact of assets deployed in the Kaliningrad region during an emergency.
Kaliningrad is a highly militarised Russian territory situated on the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It hosts the headquarters of the Russian Baltic Fleet as well as advanced air defense and missile systems, making it a frequent focus of Western intelligence gathering.
Broader NATO reconnaissance
The operation was part of a wider allied presence in the area. The Russian state news agency TASS, citing sources in European Union air traffic control, reported that three NATO reconnaissance aircraft were spotted near Kaliningrad during a two-hour window.
Alongside the Gulfstream EA-37B Compass Call II, the aircraft included a Bombardier ARTEMIS II and a Boeing E-3A Sentry, which provides airborne early warning and control.
Russian military correspondent Evgeny Poddubny also noted on his Telegram channel that NATO air forces were active in the Kaliningrad region.
