Stealth F-22 Raptors Are in Europe with One Goal in Mind: Deter Russia

The jets, which can cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburners and which typically operate at higher altitudes than most fighters, are being deployed to Germany to deter any potential Russian aggression.

byDave Majumdar

The United States Air Force has deployed a squadron of stealthy fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22ARaptor air superiority fighters to Europe.

The jets, which can cruise at supersonic speeds without afterburners and which typically operate at higher altitudes than most fighters, are being deployed to Germany to deter any potential Russian aggression.

“The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-22 Raptors, Airmen and associated equipment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, from the 95th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Wing, at Tyndall AFB, Fla., to conduct air training with other Europe-based aircraft as part of a Flying Training Deployment,” the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) said in a statement released on August 8.

“The F-22s arrived Aug. 8 and will remain in Europe for several weeks. This training deployment to Europe is funded in part by the European Deterrence Initiative.”

The Raptors will use Spangdahlem as staging ground to deploy to other parts of Europe in order to maximize potential training opportunities with America’s European NATO allies.

“The F-22s will also forward deploy from Germany to operating locations within other NATO member nations in order to maximize training opportunities while strengthening the NATO alliance and deterring regional aggression,” the USAFE said.