The U.S. is moving six fighter jets to the Baltic region and the Black Sea to support NATO’s defense capabilities as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine begins.
Six F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron operating from Spangdahlem Airbase in Germany were deployed to the region on Thursday to support NATO’s air policing mission, the Air Force said in a statement.
The aircraft are part of the forces that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin repositioned to the region on Monday
A senior defense official told reporters two of the F-35 jets will arrive in Estonia, two will arrive in Lithuania and two will arrive in Romania.
According to the Air Force's statement, the aircraft are in operation from Estonia’s Amari Air Base, Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base, and Romania’s Fetesti Air Base.
For the past couple of months, the U.S. been bolstering NATO’s defense capabilities as the threat of a Russian military incursion against Ukraine grew urgent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced early Thursday morning that he would begin a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine, which was quickly decried as a full-scale invasion.
The U.S. has sent a total of 6,000 troops to Poland, Germany and Romania — the vast majority of which would go to Poland.
Austin on Monday repositioned 800 troops stationed in Italy to the Baltics. Aside from the F-35 fighter jets, 20 AH-64 helicopters are being moved from Germany to the Baltic region, and 12 AH-64 helicopters are moving from Greece to Poland.
"The helicopters are on their way. I understand that there's been some weather issues. So we still expect those Apaches to get on site later today," a defense official told reporters. "That's the hope, but apparently there's some weather issues so I don't know for sure."
Ellen Mitchell contributed
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