US Deploys 12 F-35s To Europe To Defend NATO

US Deploys 12 F-35s To Europe To Defend NATO When Russia launched its strike on Ukraine in February 2022, NATO’s east wing became an ideal proving ground for the F-35 Lightning II, Members of the 388th FW on active duty and the Air Force’s 419th Fighter Wing became the first American F-35As to arrive to support NATO amid the opening fire of last year’s Russo-Ukrainian War. They are deployed to Germany’s Spangdahlem Air Base, Their mission: Suck in as much electronic data as possible from surface-to-air missiles and aircraft scattered over Eastern Europe to create a map to guide NATO operations.