US To Deploy 12 Attack Planes In European Bases

The United States Air Force will deploy 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft to bases in Europe as a continuation of Theater Security Packages in favour of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft are seen stored in the boneyard at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group on Arizona's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

The particular locations that will host the A-10s will be announced once the aircraft arrive at each individual places, US European Command (EUCOM) said in a press release on Friday.

As the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, these A-10s will conduct training alongside our NATO allies and European partners to strengthen interoperability and to demonstrate US commitment to the security and stability of Europe.

The US Army launched Operation Atlantic Resolve in spring 2015 last spring “in an effort to reassure America’s allies in Europe amid growing concerns over Russian aggression.”

Atlantic Resolve consists of a series of exercises and training events that was set in Poland and the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The exercise has now been extended also to Romania, Bulgaria and other NATO countries.

NATO has been reinforcing its military presence in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea since the outbreak of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine in April 2014.

Russia maintains that NATO expansion close to its western frontier is a threat to its regional security.