This week saw several significant Air Force deployments in the Baltic Region.
F-22’s in Europe
The first event was the arrival of four F-22 Raptor fighter jets of the US Air Force in Germany.
Four F-22 Raptor fighters of the 325th Fighter Wing from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida arrived in Germany on August 28th at the Spangdahlem airbase in Germany.
The deployment was a test of a new rapid deployment concept called the “Rapid Raptor Package”. The concept is to move a package of F-22’s accompanied with a C-17 aircraft and supporting logistics to be deployed in 24 hours and be combat ready a with small logistics footprint.
The “Rapid Raptor Package” is aimed to deploy a small amount of fifth generation fighter jets to strengthen allied Air Forces and secure air supremacy against any adversary.
The F-22’s were then be deployed to Poland on Monday August 31st to train with Polish F-16’s.
Drones in Latvia
Two MQ-1 Predator surveillance drones with 70 airmen were also deployed to Europe on August 28th. These drones were deployed to Latvia for a two week training mission. The deployment of the two drones is independent of the F-22 deployment.
Just like the F-22’s, these drones are tested in a forward deployment configuration. The control of the drones will be done at the Latvian Lielvarde airbase, rather than from the United States.
The two American deployments show that the United States are still committed to strengthen its Eastern European allies as well as new concepts concerning rapid deployment. The F-22 deployment is aimed to see how the US Air Force can insert a small amount of fifth generation aircraft in Europe to strengthen local air forces while keeping the logistic footprint as small as possible.
The deployment in Latvia on the other hand also fits in the forward deployment scenario with command and control of the drones in the theatre of operations instead of out of the United States mainland.
Russian and Swedish air activity
Monday September 1st also saw Russia and Sweden facing of in the Baltics. Four Russian aircraft, two TU-22 bombers and two SU-27 fighters, were flying in international airspace above the Baltic Sea. Their route brought them over the southern parts of the Baltic Sea and east of the island of Gotland.
Sweden scrambled several JAS Gripen fighters to inspect the Russian aircraft more closely even though the Russian aircraft never entered Swedish airspace.
The Russian flight came while the Swedish Air Force was engaged in an annual military exercise taking place across Sweden. The exercise was aimed to train the Air Force’s capability to defend Sweden in a high-conflict scenario.
F-22’s in Europe
The first event was the arrival of four F-22 Raptor fighter jets of the US Air Force in Germany.
Four F-22 Raptor fighters of the 325th Fighter Wing from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida arrived in Germany on August 28th at the Spangdahlem airbase in Germany.
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| F-22's arriving at Spangdahlem, Germany |
The “Rapid Raptor Package” is aimed to deploy a small amount of fifth generation fighter jets to strengthen allied Air Forces and secure air supremacy against any adversary.
The F-22’s were then be deployed to Poland on Monday August 31st to train with Polish F-16’s.
Drones in Latvia
Two MQ-1 Predator surveillance drones with 70 airmen were also deployed to Europe on August 28th. These drones were deployed to Latvia for a two week training mission. The deployment of the two drones is independent of the F-22 deployment.
 |
| MQ-1 Predator drone |
The two American deployments show that the United States are still committed to strengthen its Eastern European allies as well as new concepts concerning rapid deployment. The F-22 deployment is aimed to see how the US Air Force can insert a small amount of fifth generation aircraft in Europe to strengthen local air forces while keeping the logistic footprint as small as possible.
The deployment in Latvia on the other hand also fits in the forward deployment scenario with command and control of the drones in the theatre of operations instead of out of the United States mainland.
Russian and Swedish air activity
Monday September 1st also saw Russia and Sweden facing of in the Baltics. Four Russian aircraft, two TU-22 bombers and two SU-27 fighters, were flying in international airspace above the Baltic Sea. Their route brought them over the southern parts of the Baltic Sea and east of the island of Gotland.
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| Tu-22M bomber |
The Russian flight came while the Swedish Air Force was engaged in an annual military exercise taking place across Sweden. The exercise was aimed to train the Air Force’s capability to defend Sweden in a high-conflict scenario.
Several hours before the incident the Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist called for a stronger military cooperation with the United States. It is unclear if Russia was reaction to this statement, test the Swedish response capabilities or making a statement against US deployments in the Baltic Region.
