US to Deploy F-22s to Europe

[EGDR]

From Reuters,

U.S. to deploy F-22 fighter jets to Europe: Air Force secretary

The United States will deploy F-22 fighter jets to Europe very soon as part of the "European Reassurance Initiative," 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.

The deployment is seen as a move to assuage growing concerns among NATO allies about Russian military aggression. The Air Force has been using F-22 fighter jets in its strikes against Islamic State, the first real combat air strikes by the aircraft.

(Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Sandra Maler)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/ ... =worldNews

[thommg]

Oh interesting! Spangdahlem in 2016 perhaps???

[davedubya]

CONFIRMED: RAF Woodbridge reactivated to house F-22s.

[Skywatcher]

Hi,is the above true statement,thought if anything LN and maybe FFD may have been more appropriate,would be great to see F-A22-A Raptors based in the UK though
All the best
Max

[welshandy]

This on Reuters
"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."

[Skywatcher]

Excellent news,I look forward to this
All the best
Max

[KINROTATE]

RAF Woodbridge, de-activated in 1993, supporting F-22, really?

[MacksAviation]

CONFIRMED: RAF Woodbridge reactivated to house F-22s.

Strange they only activating Woodbridge and not Bentwaters thought Alconbury would have been a better choice

[Pune]

CONFIRMED: RAF Woodbridge reactivated to house F-22s.

Now that is interesting, where was this confirmed Dave?
Cheers
Pune

[RubyRoo]

He's joking, Max.

MoD Woodbridge is not being reactivated to house any F-22's.

If they make any appearance in the UK it'll almost certainly be Lakenheath that gets a visit.

[Skywatcher]

Hi,
Thanks for above,that clears that up then
Much appricated
All the best
Max

[TankBuster]

Woodbridge would be a nice secluded base to house F-22's, but it would need an awful amount of work done to the place to bring it up to modern airfield standards. Anything is possible, but in this day and age of cutbacks I think it is highly unlikely.

If they do come to the UK then I think LN is the only place they'd go to.

TankBuster

[eagle driver]

A post on scramble mentions only 4 to be deployed to Europe.

[tonkatom]

I think we would be lucky to see them here,Estonia with the A-10s? Spanghalem? Can't see the reasoning to deploying them to lakenheath when the USAF have other bases in Europe that would be better situated for regular sorties with nato partners which seems to be the aim of this deployment.

[Northsky]

I would say LN would be a good bet remember the AK`s and also they want to Ex with Typhoons ,though it says Eurofighters in Stars and Stripes.

N

[bizfreeq]

So it couldn't possibly be German ones they want to 'ex' with then?
Didn't see any mention of RAF so that's probably why they weren't called Typhoons

[C24]

It would be interesting to know which airbases are being considered for such deployment that should include 12 aircraft and 200-300 support personnel even though the aircraft will probably not be stationed at a single base but will perform short rotations to a few airports in eastern Europe as already done by the F-15s and A-10s of the previous TSPs (that have visited Germany, UK, Poland, Estonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, etc.).

Read more: http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-us-is ... z3jr1kKlWH

FYI

[Gary]

I doubt it will be or was ever planned to be a full TSP. I'm guessing it will be a short 3 week ish deployment like the 303rd Fighter Squadron / 442nd OG A-10s are doing.

The 48th FW commander has mentioned them again on Facebook and they low fly fraternity are already out in force on the page https://www.facebook.com/48FWCommander?fref=ts

As bizfreeq said it just says Typhoons. Send the F-22s to the Germans ones are about to take over BAP I'm sure the Russians would love that

[Headancer]

It's 4 aircraft only. Mentioned in all the PR!

[davedubya]

CONFIRMED: I was joking and refuse to use smilies.