Washington. October 2. INTERFAX - The United States will begin deploying a squadron of 27 fifth-generation F-35A fighters at Lakenheath Air Base in England next winter, the US Air Force reported.
"The fighters will arrive this winter," said the commander of the 495 Squadron, which will include F-35A, Lieutenant Colonel Ian McLaughlin.
This will be the first permanent deployment of such aircraft outside the United States. Lakenheath Air Base is located 113 km northeast of London. Currently, American F-15 fighters are stationed there as part of two squadrons.
In September, the commander of the European Command of the US Armed Forces and the Supreme Commander of the United NATO Armed Forces in Europe, Air Force General Tod Walters, announced plans by the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance to deploy a total of 450 F-35 fighters of the national Air Force at 12 of their bases.
