Photo supplied, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa

Six Hill Air Force Base fighters have deployed to the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions of Eastern Europe to aid in NATO defense efforts as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolds.

“We are facing a dynamic environment, and the deployment of F-35s to NATO’s eastern flank enhances our defensive posture and amplifies the Alliance’s interoperability,” Gen. Jeff Harrigian, the U.S. Air Force in Europe commander, said in a statement.

A contingent of F-35A Lighting II aircraft from Hill AFB arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on Feb. 16 as part of efforts to bolster support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance of nations.

The six Hill AFB F-35A airplanes, deployed to Black Sea and Baltic Sea regions on Thursday, will support NATO’s air policing mission out of Amari Air Base in Estonia, Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania and Fetesti Air Base in Romania for a “period of time,” said a U.S. Air Forces in Europe statement. Estonia and Lithuania are Baltic Sea nations bordering northwestern Russia while Romania is a Black Sea nation that shares a border with Ukraine.

Without specifically mentioning the tensions stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the statement, issued out of Spangdahlem Air Base, touted the attributes of the F-35 series of planes.

Photo supplied, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa

“The F-35 provides unprecedented communication capabilities, command and control and lethality for the combined and joint force,” said the statement. “These capabilities afford NATO leaders the flexibility to project power and assert air dominance in highly contested environments.”

U.S. Air Force caption info accompanying photos of Hill AFB F-35 craft was more explicit. Efforts in the Black Sea area aim “to reinforce regional security during the current tensions caused by Russia’s continuing military build-up near Ukraine,” the caption read.

A Hill AFB press release last week on the deployment of the Utah-based F-35A aircraft alluded to the uncertainty brought on by the Ukraine-Russia tensions.

“These deployments were conducted in full coordination with host nations and NATO military authorities, and although temporary in nature, they are prudent measures to increase readiness and enhance NATOs collective defense during this period of uncertainty,” said the statement.