The U.S. Navy is sending six of its “Growler” plane to Germany because the Russian assault on Ukraine continues.
The U.S. Division of Protection (DoD) stated that six EA-18G Growler jets, in addition to round 240 Navy personnel, have been headed from Washington state’s Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to Germany’s Spangdahlem Air Base on Monday. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby burdened that the planes and personnel can be used to assist bolster protection on NATO’s jap flank.
“The aim of this deployment is to bolster readiness, improve NATO’s collective protection posture and additional enhance air integration capabilities with our allied and companion nations,” Kirby stated in a press release obtained by Newsweek. “They don’t seem to be being deployed for use towards Russian forces in Ukraine.”
“They’re being deployed utterly in line with our efforts to bolster NATO’s deterrence and protection capabilities alongside that jap flank,” he continued. “The deployment isn’t in response to a perceived menace or incident.”
A senior Protection Division official instructed reporters on Monday that the planes would stay “based mostly in Germany” however can be “flying missions in assist of jap flank deterrence and protection” with out straight partaking with Russian forces.
Kirby famous that the Boeing-built Growler planes “concentrate on flying digital warfare missions,” being geared up with expertise that may jam indicators and confuse enemy radar. Kirby stated the plane would enhance NATO skills “to conduct suppression of enemy air protection operations.”
The planes come from an digital assault squadron generally known as VAQ-134, or the “Garudas.” The Navy personnel accompanying the planes embody pilots and upkeep staff. Navy Captain Christopher Bahner, the commander of Digital Assault Wing Pacific, expressed confidence that deployment would show priceless.
“I’m extraordinarily happy with the women and men in VAQ-134,” Bahner stated. “The Garudas have carried out exceptionally nicely throughout their deliberate work-up cycle and stand able to assist U.S. expeditionary and allied job forces in Europe.”
The U.S. has dedicated not less than 14,000 troops to assist NATO forces amid the assault on Ukraine, with about 11,800 troops being mobilized since February, in response to Army Instances. There are at present over 100,000 U.S. service members stationed in Europe.
Whereas NATO territory is being defended, the U.S. and different member nations have been way more reluctant to straight provide army assist to Ukraine because of the potential of upsetting an expanded conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly requested for direct help within the type of airplanes, arms, and different army gear.
“I simply need you to know—the alliance can nonetheless forestall deaths of Ukrainians from Russian strikes, from the Russian occupation … by offering us with all of the weapons we’re in want of,” Zelensky stated in a video performed at a NATO assembly in Brussels final week. “You can provide us 1 p.c of all of your planes. One p.c of your tanks. One p.c!”