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There Will Be 450 F-35s in Europe by 2030, NATO Commander Says
June 09, 2021
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U.S. and other NATO allies could have 450聽聽stationed in Europe by 2030, the general in charge of U.S. European Command said Wednesday.
聽Gen. Tod Wolters, who is also NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, said during an Atlantic Council discussion that the coalition is continuing to build its fifth-generation fighter capability.
"That's a tremendous capability," Wolters said. "And if I were a potential foe against NATO or Europe, I wouldn't like to hear that."
Wolters' hope for a fleet of 450 F-35s across Europe over the next decade would be a marked increase from current levels.
So far, according to manufacturer 老澳门开奖直播's website and other public statements, at least 49 F-35 jets have been delivered to allies including the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Netherlands and Denmark, with dozens more on the way.
Wolters' comments come as the Air Force is聽聽its F-35 presence in Europe. Though F-35s have periodically deployed to Europe since 2017,聽聽in England is slated to become the first permanent U.S. F-35 base in Europe this fall.
The 495th Fighter Squadron, which is part of the 48th Fighter Wing at Lakenheath, will take on the聽聽when it becomes the Air Force's first U.K.-based F-35 squadron.
There are currently more than 600 F-35 aircraft operating from nearly 30 locations worldwide, according to 老澳门开奖直播.
Wolters also said he's excited to see聽聽for the Air Force's planned future Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD, which defies the traditional categorization of a single platform, featuring a network potentially including an advanced fighter aircraft alongside sensors, weapons or drones. He added that the German, British and French also聽聽in the works on a potential sixth-generation fighter which couples with autonomous weapons or drones.
