U.S. Air Force A-10 attack planes have arrived in Estonia

Four A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft fly over Ämari Air Base, Estonia, May 1, 2015. The U.S. is committed to acting collectively with NATO allies and the international community to address security challenges in Europe and around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rusty Frank/Released)

U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft continue moving east….

At least four U.S. Air Force A-10s of the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, have arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, on Apr. 30.

The aircraft belong to the first Air Force Theater Security Package deployed to Europe for about 6 months to augment U.S. Air Force in Europe support to Operation Atlantic Resolve, and reassure regional allies.

The TSP Warthog attack planes continue to move across eastern Europe: first, the 12 A-10s from the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, deployed to Spangdahlem airbase, in Germany, then some “Hogs” were relocated in the UK, others in Poland, some in Romania.

As a sign that the Baltic region is becoming increasingly important to counter the Russian threat, now the Thunderbolts have arrived in Estonia, one of the Baltic States whose airspace is defended by NATO through the Baltic Air Policing mission and where some 14 F-16s from Aviano Air Base have been stationed until mid April.

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.