The United States will deploy F-22 fighter jets to Europe very soon as part of a broader effort to support eastern European members of the NATO alliance unnerved by Russia's intervention in Ukraine, Air Force Secretary Deborah James said on Monday.
James did not give details about the specific number of planes, date or location of the deployment, but said it was in line with Defense Secretary Ash Carter's recent call for a strong and balanced approach to Russia.
The first deployment of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 to Europe outside air shows is seen as a move to address growing concerns among NATO allies about Russian military aggression. The Air Force has also been using radar-evading F-22 fighter jets to carry out some its attacks against Islamic State, the first real combat airstrikes by the jets.
"Russia's military activity in the Ukraine continues to be of great concern to us and to our European allies," James told a news conference at the Pentagon. "For the Air Force, an F-22 deployment is certainly on the strong side of the coin."
Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh James said the F-22's inaugural training deployment in Europe would allow U.S. forces to train with NATO partners across Europe, testing the ability of the jets to communicate and fight together with the Eurofighter, and other advanced warplanes.
James said the deployment would give F-22 pilots more experience with the European terrain. The Air Force has previously deployed the jets in Japan and South Korea.
Welsh said it would also allow the jets to fly into and out of facilities that could be used in some future conflict.
The single-seat, twin-engine, all weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft was designed by Lockheed and Boeing Co as an air superiority fighter, but it can also be used for ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence.
The jets formally entered service in December 2005, with the last F-22 delivered to the Air Force in 2012.
