Why Not Send F-35s to Eastern Europe to Contain Russia?

Video Above: F-35s to Europe

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

As the US and its NATO allies contemplate force positioning on the European continent in response to threats of a Russian invasion into Ukraine, there is a key variable seemingly lurking beneath the radar. What about the F-35?

F-35 Deterrence

Should any kind of US and allied F-35 force be massed or gathered in Eastern Europe within reach of Ukraine, it could lead Russian military strategists to “pause” when contemplating the price of an invasion. Why not gather a group of allied F-35 near or even in Ukraine and run drills, exercises and combat preparation operations? While NATO and the US might be reluctant to use F-35s to engage or attack Russian forces given concerns about possible escalation, wouldn’t the mere presence or demonstration of F-35 power greatly strengthen any kind of US and NATO deterrence posture?

The idea makes sense, particularly in light of the growing number of European countries now operating and acquiring F-35s, all of which can interoperate with one another using secure datalinks. Not only does the US now have operational F-35 squadrons in Europe, but Denmark has received its first plane, Norway and the UK currently fly combat ready F-35s and Poland, Switzerland and Finland are all massively revving up their own force of F-35s. Italy and The Netherlands are also F-35 partners as well.

Added to this possibility is the fact that European countries are in close proximity to one another, making it quite possible for F-35s to reach Ukraine from Poland or other Eastern European countries within their existing combat radius.

Regardless of whether F-35s were actually used in combat against Russian forces, the realistic possibility that “could” be used to counter a Russian invasion is likely to greatly impact the strategic equation.