The US has sent twelve fighters and about 350 troops to Europe. The F-15s will help monitor the airspace of Iceland and the Netherlands participate in exercises. This announced the Pentagon. It is the second time in a short time that the US air defense fighters sent to Europe in response to Russian aggression in the region.
"The program is intended to demonstrate the US commitment to Europe and to deter further Russian aggression," the US Air Force said in a statement.
The US announced earlier this year to send all six F-15s to Finland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was initiated by the Russian involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.The F-15C Eagles are expected this weekend in the Netherlands and Iceland and continue until September. In the Netherlands they are stationed at the airbase in Leeuwarden.
"Our military relations with allies such as Iceland are critical to the security of the US and NATO," said Colonel James Keefe, commander of the 104th Fighter Wing, which is sent out."We remain concerned with national security, both at home and abroad, together with our allies."
Signal
The F-15 is America's premier air defense fighter. The device is mainly used in war to conquer the airspace and secure. The Obama administration in recent years sent the successor of the unit, the ultra-modern and extremely costly F-22 Raptor, including to the Middle East to warn Iran.
In January, Washington sent twelve F-22s to Japan, two weeks after North Korea claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb. That nuclear test led to new tensions with the regime in Pyongyang.
The F-15s that are now being sent out, will include support from Iceland surveillance missions of NATO in Europe. Unless signal to the Russians, these flights also meant to strengthen US ties with NATO allies and to show that the US is involved in the defense of the region Europe.
Until 2006, the US Army had an air base in Iceland, which itself has no army. Since 2008, NATO secures the Icelandic airspace. Last year was also an exercise of American F-15 aircraft with Dutch F-16s instead.
The F-15s sent to Finland, come next month. Finland was the arrival of the American aircraft known a day after Russia announced a large-scale military exercise. This exercise, with airborne troops and two hundred aircraft, according to the Russian Defense Minister Shoigu designed to test their "mobility".
http://www.volkskrant.nl/ Edited by: Editorial / Source: Reuters Photo: US Air Force
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