WASHINGTON
The U.S. confirmed Tuesday that it will send F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Europe as part of a broader initiative to reassure its eastern European allies that are concerned by Russian actions.
“The F-22s will train with our joint partners and NATO allies across Europe as part of our continued effort to assure our allies and demonstrate our commitment to the security and stability of Europe,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in a statement.
The Air Force did not say when or where the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-22s will be deployed, or how many will be sent.
NATO allies have been particularly concerned about Russia’s actions in the region following its annexation of the Crimean peninsula and support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The F-22 was first deployed last year in active combat in Iraq and Syria to carry out airstrikes against Daesh and support other aircraft participating in the U.S.-led coalition’s bombing campaign against the extremists.
The stealthy fifth-generation fighter is a single-seat, twin-engine plane that costs roughly $143 million, according to the Air Force. It is built for air-to-air and air-to-ground warfare.
