The United States has sent a pair of F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Romania in an effort to assist a NATO ally and to keep a close watch on Russian military activity around the Black Sea region. The announcement was made by the Air Force who also said that the advanced aircraft fighters were there to support the American troops who are already stationed in and around Romania.
Much of this action has been prompted by the Russian annexation of the Ukraine and by the Russian backing of pro-Russian forces inside that country. Many of the U.S. NATO allies in eastern Europe have been wary of Russia of late and have voiced concerns that they may not be able to halt any manner of Russian advance or attack.
Air Force spokesman, Lt. General Timothy Ray said, “These aircraft have the ability to project air dominance quickly, at great distances, to defeat any possible threat.” The F-22 Raptors are in Romania, he said, to “bolster the security of NATO allies and partners in Europe.”
The F-22 Raptors landing at a Romanian airbase on Monday, April 25
The F-22’s were flown into Romania from England and the planes are virtually invisible to radar detection. The United States has a small fleet of a dozen Raptors based in England. The fighter aircraft is so powerful and so technologically advanced that the United States Congress has ordered the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, that they are forbidden to sell the aircraft to any foreign countries.
One of the strategies that the Air Force states is to keep any possible aggressor or enemy off balance so that they won’t know what to expect next. Earlier, in April, two Russian warplanes swooped down and made a close pass at the American fleet stationed in the Baltic Sea. The presence of the F-22 Raptors on the continent may act as a further deterrent to any future attempts by Russia to intimidate.
The United States is unsure as to if their NATO allies will be able to fend of a Russian attack so moves are being made to assist with their readiness. According to one defense estimate, the Russian military, at this time, would be able to conquer the Baltic states within two days time. The Russians have also stepped up their submarine patrols in the north Atlantic prompting the U.S. to reestablish its submarine hunting facility based in Iceland.
PHOTO SOURCES: Time Magazine, Wikimedia Commons, Mrwallpaper.com