F-22 Raptors have deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany to train with United States and allied air forces through mid-September, according to DOD and Air Force press releases.

Four Raptors and approximately 60 airmen from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida’s, 95^th Fighter Squadron, and a C-17 Globemaster III from the 60^th Airlift Wing out of Travis Air Force Base, California, arrived over the weekend.

“It’s important we test our infrastructure, aircraft capabilities, and the talented airmen and allies who will host 5th generation aircraft in Europe,” said Gorenc. “This deployment advances our airpower evolution and demonstrates our resolve and commitment to European safety and security.”

“This inaugural Raptor training deployment is the perfect opportunity for these advanced aircraft to train alongside other U.S. Air Force aircraft, joint partners, and NATO allies,” said U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Commander Gen. Frank Gorenc.

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III announced the planned deployment during their State of the Air Force address and press conference Aug. 25. The deployment is funded under the European Reassurance Initiative, along with earlier and ongoing deployments of other aircraft, including F-15s, F-16s and A-10s as well as the deployment of Army and Navy units that have been exercising with partners and allies. The European Reassurance Initiative, and the U.S. Air Force Theater Security Packages that are part of it, were developed and deployed to reinforce and reassure NATO allies of American commitment to the region and to deter Russian aggression against its neighbors.

“So this is a natural evolution in bringing our best air-to-air capability in to train with partners who have been long and trusted ones,” Welsh said.

“Now, rotational forces and training exercises help us maintain our strong and balanced approach, and we will certainly be continuing these in the future. For the Air Force, an F-22 deployment is certainly on the strong side of the coin, and so today, we are announcing that we will very soon deploy F-22s to Europe to support combatant commander requirements, and as part of the European Reassurance Initiative,” James said during the press conference.

“Airmen who are a part of this inaugural F-22 training deployment will train with our joint partners and our NATO allies across Europe as part of our continued effort to assure our allies and demonstrate our commitments to security and stability of Europe,” James said.

The F-22 made its combat debut over Syria last year, carrying out airstrikes on ISIL forces, and Raptors have continued an ongoing deployment in that area of operations. They have also deployed to the Pacific and have participated regularly in Red Flag exercises.

“I would tell you the F-22 deploying to Europe is just a continuation of deploying it everywhere we can to train with our partners,” said Welsh during the press conference. “We’re going to be doing a training deployment, we’ll operate with a number of different air forces.”

“We’ll get the F-22 into facilities that we would potentially use in a conflict in Europe, things like the bases where we do aviation attachments, to places where we do air policing missions.  They’ll train with some of our European partners.  They’re there primarily for an exercise, training with our European partners,” Welsh said.

“So this is a natural evolution in bringing our best air-to-air capability in to train with partners who have been long and trusted ones,” Welsh said.

The first deployment of Raptors to Europe will build and demonstrate interoperability between the F-22 and disparate types of aircraft used by partner and allied air forces. The 5th generation Raptors will operate and train alongside 4^th generation aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 as well as a range of aircraft from NATO allies and partners, including the “generation 4.5” Eurofighter Typhoon, which serves the European air forces of the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Austria.

“We have allies in Europe who have advanced capabilities – the Eurofighter as just an example. We have aircraft with very advanced capabilities, and we need, and they would like for us, to be able to interoperate in multiple-type scenarios. And so being able to train side-by-side with them and do that kind of training is really, really important to us, and that’s what this is for,” Welsh said.

“It’s important we test our infrastructure, aircraft capabilities, and the talented airmen and allies who will host 5th generation aircraft in Europe,” said Gorenc. “This deployment advances our airpower evolution and demonstrates our resolve and commitment to European safety and security.”