The F-35 is coming to Russia’s doorstep in a development likely to greatly expand and strengthen the US, European and NATO deterrence posture on the continent.
F-35s in Europe
Finland has now chosen the F-35 in large numbers, joining the growing list of F-35 member nations which now includes Switzerland alongside Italy, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and Poland.
This line-up of F-35 nations introduces a formidable combined fleet of networked 5th generation aircraft sufficiently positioned to achieve air superiority in any kind of great power air engagement on the European continent.
The deal is reportedly worth as much as $11billion and will include at least 64 new jets, a number expected to bring large strategic and tactical implications to the European continent.
There are certainly many reasons for how this might continue to change the deterrence and threat equation in Europe, many of which are of course quite well known.