The U.S. Air Force is moving six F-22 Raptors from Alaska to Poland, as the military effort expands to protect NATO allies against Russian aggression, which has created tensions across Eastern Europe after the Russia invasion of Ukraine.
The six F-22s are coming from the 90th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside of Anchorage, and arrived Tuesday at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England.
The warbirds will next land at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, Poland, “ensuring NATO Allies are better able to safeguard and protect Alliance territory,” an Air Force press release said. The aircraft will be supporting air shielding as the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
“The NATO Air Shielding mission integrates Allied Air and Surface Based Air and Missile Defence units into the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence system under NATO Command and Control. It will provide a near seamless shield from the Baltic to Black Seas, ensuring NATO Allies are better able to safeguard and protect Alliance territory, populations and forces from air and missile threat,” the Air Force statement said.
“The fifth generation capability contributes to the Air Shielding mission with its ability to provide lethality and survivability against any emerging high end threats. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force. Integration with NATO Allies and Partners further demonstrates the Alliance’s dedication to deter and defend in an increasingly complex and changing security environment.”
“The Raptor is a critical component of the global strike Task Force, and designed to project air dominance, rapidly and at great distances to defeat threats attempting to deny access to our nation’s Army, Navy and Marine Corps. It cannot be matched by any known or projected fighter aircraft, making it a highly strategic platform to support NATO Air Shielding.”
