Could NATO F-35s Deter a Russian Invasion? US Sends F-35s to Baltics on Russia’s Border

Video Above:F-35s in the Russia Ukraine Conflict

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

The US Air Force Europe has now sent more stealth jet 5th-generation air power to Russia’s border in the Baltics to help ensure that Putin does not contemplate further expansion beyond Ukraine into NATO territory.

F-35s & NATO

A statement from US Air Forces Europe said new F-35s were being sent to Estonia and Lithuania in support of NATO Air Policing.

“Royal Air Force Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing deployed six F-35 aircraft to Amari Air Base, Estonia, and Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, to continue bolstering NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea region alongside F-15E Strike Eagles currently deployed to Poland,” a statement from US Air Forces Europe said.

Could US Air Force and NATO F-35s stop a Russian invasion by establishing air superiority and potentially destroying advancing ground forces from the air? There seems to be a clear possibility that it could.

The US Air Force alone operates roughly 300 F-35s, according to an interesting report last year in Air Force Magazine, and that is a force supplemented by now already operational amphib-launched F-35Bs and carrier-launched F-35Cs. The US Navy’s USS America, a single amphibious assault ship, has deployed with as many as 15 F-35s on board.