Third Military Aircraft Spotted Over Fresno, Adding to Recent Unusual Sightings

An EA-37B Compass Call II, one of the U.S. Air Force's most advanced electronic warfare jets, was spotted looping over the Fresno area Wednesday, marking the third consecutive unusual military aircraft sighting above the Central Valley in a matter of weeks.

The Compass Call's role is to disrupt enemy command and control communications, radars, and navigation systems, significantly hindering adversary coordination. It is a wide-area airborne electronic attack weapon system using a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 airframe and carries a combat crew of up to nine people: two pilots responsible for flight and an additional seven members who operate and employ the electronic attack mission equipment integrated into the aircraft's mission compartment.

The aircraft's appearance over Fresno comes weeks after two other high-profile military planes drew widespread attention in the area. The Boeing E-6B Mercury, often called the "Doomsday Plane," and the Boeing P-8 Poseidon "submarine hunter" were both spotted performing maneuvers above Fresno in early March 2026. The E-6B underwent mock landings at Fresno Yosemite International Airport for two hours during its visit. The Poseidon flew over Fresno for an estimated 30 minutes before traveling back north, with several residents confirming they saw the plane before hearing it.

Vikkie Calderon, spokesperson for Fresno Yosemite International Airport, told the Los Angeles Times: "It is common for aircraft to conduct touch-and-go operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. In addition to serving as a public-use airport, Fresno's geographical location, runway capabilities, and Instrument Landing Systems make it an optimal choice for a wide range of aircraft operations."

Retired Air Force Major General Clay Garrison, chairman of the Castle Air Museum, described the E-6B to KMPH News as "an airborne control for all of the nuclear triad or the nuclear systems of the United States." No comparable official comment has been issued regarding the EA-37B's presence over the city.

The EA-37B flew its first mission training sortie on May 2, 2025, out of Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. The aircraft is assigned to the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The fleet is set to begin an upgrade to its Baseline 4 configuration in 2026, coinciding with its planned initial operating capability.

The back-to-back sightings of three distinct high-value military platforms over Fresno in less than a month have stoked public speculation about the reasons behind the unusual aerial activity, with no official explanation offered for the pattern. FOX26 is actively seeking photos from anyone who spotted the EA-37B Compass Call II over the Fresno area.