Could European & US F-35s Save the Baltics from a Russian Invasion?

Related Video Above: F-35s to Eurpoe

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

A quick look at a map of the Baltic Sea raises new possibilities for US and NATO allied Air Forces in Northern Europe given the rapid arrival of new F-35s.

Just last year, Denmark received its first F-35, Norway conducted F-35 training missions, the Royal Netherlands Air Force declared its F-35s operational, Poland increased its F-35 force, US and UK carriers and surface ships conducted joint-F-35 missions and Finland and Switzerland recently chose the F-35 for its force. 

Deterring or Destroying Russian Forces 

All of these events, unfolding over just this past year, paint a new picture when it comes to any ability to deter or destroy Russian forces from the Baltic Sea. This concentration of F-35 power in Northern Europe introduces the possibility that the US and its allies could, if necessary, quickly launch a massive 5th-generation air assault into Russian airspace should that instantly become necessary. 

Not only does Finland itself share a border with Russia, but the Russian coastline and the Baltic states border the Baltic Sea as well. This places Russia easily within the combat attack radius of F-35s from Poland, Finland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands and possibly even the UK.

This highly impactful tactical reality, greatly enhanced by the F-35s multi-national Multifunction Advanced Data Link connecting all F-35s, does not even take ocean launched F-35s into account. Certainly US and allied amphibs or even carriers could also launch F-35s from areas in the Baltic Sea as well.