The U.S. Air Force is deploying 12 F-15 jets to Europe as first Air National Guard theater security package

Twelve F-15C jets will operate in the Netherlands before moving to Bulgaria.

It looks like the military build-up in eastern Europe continues.

The U.S. Air Force is deploying 12 F-15C belonging to the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Fla., to Europe.

The Eagles, part of the first ANG TSP (Theater Security Package) will first operate from Leeuwarden airbase, in the Netherlands, where they will take part in the Frisian Flag mutinational exercise, then, they are expected to move east and be temporarily based at Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria.

The Air National Guard F-15s are the second TSP to deploy to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the mission aimed at showing Washington’s commitment to peace and stability in the region and reassure local allies amid growing tensions with Russia following the annexation of Crimea last year.

Last month, 12 A-10s of the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, deployed to Germany as part of the first theater security rotation on the Continent. The unit first flew from Spangdahlem air base, and then moved to RAF Lakenheath, UK, and to Poland.

TSPs are not the only U.S. forces currently operating from Europe: 14 F-16s from Aviano airbase, have deployed to Estonia, to conduct joint training with local military forces.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

 

About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.