U.S. F-35A stealth fighters to move to Estonia tomorrow. Meanwhile, the British Typhoons have arrived in Romania.

April 24, 2017 F-35, Russia, Troubled Areas
David Cenciotti

Some of the F-35A Lightning II aircraft currently at RAF Lakenheath will forward deploy to Estonia tomorrow. Meanwhile, the first RAF Typhoons have arrived in Romania.

According to information available to the Estonia ERR media outlet, an unspecified number of F-35s will arrive at Ämari air base, Estonia, on Tuesday, Apr. 25.

“The jets will remain in Estonia for several weeks and conduct training flights with other aircraft of the U.S. and allied air forces.”

Eight F-35s and 250 airmen belonging to the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th Fighter Squadron, 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, have deployed to RAF Lakenheath recently (beginning with the first section of 6 aircraft on Apr. 15).

The 5th generation multirole combat aircraft have deployed to Europe for the first time in support of the European Reassurance Initiative. As done by the preceding US jets operating in the old continent as part of the so-called Theater Security Packages (TSPs), including the F-22 Raptors and the A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, they will visit various Baltic and eastern Europe airbases “to maximize training opportunities, affirm enduring commitments to NATO allies, and deter any actions that destabilize regional security.”

Meanwhile, on Apr. 24, RAF Typhoons have arrived at Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) airbase near Constanta, in Romania for the first time in support of the NATO air policing mission. The aircraft will provide air policing over the Black Sea from May to September 2017.

According to the UK MoD, 135 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) consists of 150 personnel drawn from across the RAF, whose mission is to keep the fast jets flying during their four month deployment.

The mission of patrolling the skies along NATO’s eastern border was intensified following the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The arrival of the British Typhoons is the last of a series of measures “to deter a Russian aggression over the Black Sea.”

RAF Typhoons arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) airbase near Constanta, in Romania for the first time in support of the NATO air policing mission. (Image credit: Crown Copyright)

 

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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.

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4 Comments

  1. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitri Peskov did not take kindly to the F-35’s deployment calling it “”a threat to us.” He continued, “this is an action that threatens our interests, our security.”

    Boo Hoo Dmitri. If you didn’t conquer Crimea and didn’t invade Eastern Ukraine the F-35s wouldn’t be there. But you did and they are. Your FEAR of this stealth fighter speaks volumes!

  2. Russia is up in arms about F-35’s deployment to Estonia. Consider it a very personal message from President Trump to Czar Vladimir. Kinda like what Putin has been trying to say to Washington with those pathetic Tu-95 flights near Alaska. The U.S. laughs at those. Seems Russia isn’t laughing about F-35! I wonder why?

    https://twitter.com/USEmbTallinn/status/856833570714918913

    https://twitter.com/USEmbTallinn/status/856823982053576708

    Think the F-35s will be collecting some ELINT coming from Kaliningrad? Using its advanced sensors to gobble up Russian RADAR signatures and comms, staying passive (no use of APG-81) and using radar reflectors so Russia learns nothing about the JSF’s RCS? Could be! : )

  3. They have a hard enough time with the F-22. Do you honestly think/believe they would have an easier time with the F-35 (which is reported and said to be even more stealthy than the F-22)?

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