US strengthens security in Europe with Air Force

The United States sent four F-22 Raptor multi-purpose fighter jets to Europe as part of the European Security Initiative. The aircraft arrived at the American airbase Spangdahlem in western Germany on Friday, 28 August.

As noted, the first placement of F-22 Raptor in Europe is educational in nature. At the same time, the transfer of fighters is aimed at strengthening the security of NATO member countries. According to media reports along with the aircraft, 60 troops from the 95 Squadron of the US Air Force arrived at the airbase. They were accompanied by a strategic military transport aircraft C-17 Globemaster.

24 August US Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James announced Washington’s intention to deploy F-22 fighters in Europe. According to her, the deployment of the newest fighters in Europe is viewed as a step aimed at reassuring the NATO countries over the alleged Russian military aggression. "Russia's military activities in Ukraine continue to cause great concern to us and our European allies," she said.

For the first time about the plans of the United States became known in June of this year. The Minister of the Air Force called the events in Russia the biggest threat and called on NATO allies to increase military spending.

The F-22 fighter was developed in the second half of the 1980-s and made its first flight in September of the 1997. The United States fighter aircraft, belonging to the fifth generation fighter aircraft, entered the 2005 year. Currently, the United States Air Force has 178 aircraft of this type; what number of fighters used in the United States is still unknown. The production of F-22 was officially closed in 2011, but the production lines themselves were conserved.