SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. F-35 Lightning II fifth generation fighter aircraft have repositioned in the Baltic Sea region, Feb. 27, to support on-going NATO Enhanced Air Policing missions along Europe’s eastern flank.
Royal Air Force Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing deployed six F-35 aircraft to Amari Air Base, Estonia, and Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, to continue bolstering NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea region alongside F-15E Strike Eagles currently deployed to Poland.
The 388th Fighter Wing’s initial six F-35 aircraft supported a variety of NATO’s defensive air policing objectives while forward deployed, and they will return to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, today. The 52nd Fighter Wing continues to support coalition objectives in Romania with F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, in response to the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s order, continues to enhance NATO’s fighter capabilities in the Baltic and Black Sea regions.
USAFE’s ability to support and integrate with NATO’s air policing missions continually strengthens the alliance’s solidarity, collective resolve, and ability to adapt to a dynamic warfighting environment.
Imagery will be available on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/supporteuropartallies.
For more information, please call +49 (0) 6371-47-6558 or e-mail usafepao.pao@us.af.mil. If after duty hours, please call +49 (0) 1624-25-5428 or e-mail usafepa.pastaffdutyofficer@us.af.mil.