The US, UK Deploy Fighter Jets to Europe
A message to Russia? The United States has sent two F-35 stealth fighters to Estonia, while Britain has deployed four Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to Romania
Dan Arkin
| 27/04/2017
Two F-35As, accompanied by about 20 supporting airmen, arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, on Tuesday for familiarization training in the region, according to a US Air Forces in Europe statement.
On Monday, the Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported that an undisclosed number of F-35As were heading to the Estonian air base and, after landing, would be in the country for “several weeks” to conduct training flights with aircraft from the US and allied militaries.
The F-35’s trip to Europe is being conducted under the auspices of the European Reassurance Initiative — the US Defense Department’s buzzword for a series of exercises and training opportunities with NATO allies meant to signal strength to Russia and improve interoperability.
Meanwhile, four UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft arrived in Romania on 24 April ahead of a four-month deployment in support of NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission.
The arrival of the jets and their 150 support personnel at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base near the Romanian Black Sea city of Constanta marks the commencement of NATO's new Southern Air Policing mission, with this first rotation running through to September. This mission falls under the auspices of the alliance's Assurance Measures, which were introduced in 2014 following the breakdown in relations with Russia over the invasion and annexation of Crimea.
[Sources: Defense News / IHS Jane's]
A message to Russia? The United States has sent two F-35 stealth fighters to Estonia, while Britain has deployed four Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft to Romania
Two F-35As, accompanied by about 20 supporting airmen, arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, on Tuesday for familiarization training in the region, according to a US Air Forces in Europe statement.
On Monday, the Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported that an undisclosed number of F-35As were heading to the Estonian air base and, after landing, would be in the country for “several weeks” to conduct training flights with aircraft from the US and allied militaries.
The F-35’s trip to Europe is being conducted under the auspices of the European Reassurance Initiative — the US Defense Department’s buzzword for a series of exercises and training opportunities with NATO allies meant to signal strength to Russia and improve interoperability.
Meanwhile, four UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft arrived in Romania on 24 April ahead of a four-month deployment in support of NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission.
The arrival of the jets and their 150 support personnel at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base near the Romanian Black Sea city of Constanta marks the commencement of NATO's new Southern Air Policing mission, with this first rotation running through to September. This mission falls under the auspices of the alliance's Assurance Measures, which were introduced in 2014 following the breakdown in relations with Russia over the invasion and annexation of Crimea.
[Sources: Defense News / IHS Jane's]
