The Pentagon is deploying six US Navy electronic warfare jets and more than 200 accompany troops to Germany as the US bolsters its forces in eastern Europe amid Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters today that six Navy E/A-18G Growler jets were deploying from Naval Air Station Whidbey in Washington state to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, and the jets were expected to arrive today.
In addition, they would be accompanied by about 240 Navy air crew, pilots and maintenance staff, he said.
The Navy Growler jets are primarily used for flying electronic warfare missions, including radar jamming to help suppress air defenses.
Kirby said that the Growlers were not being sent to be used against Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, and the deployment was not being made in response to any incident.
“They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank,” Kirby said. “They are not being sent because of some acute threat that was perceived or some specific incident that happened. They are being deployed as we have said all along, the secretary wants to keep options open.”
The Navy deployment adds to the thousands of US troops that have deployed to NATO countries in eastern Europe over the past five weeks since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Brendan Stickles, a former commander of an E/A-18G squadron, told CNN that he wasn’t surprised that an expeditionary Navy Growler squadron was deployed in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
“The six Growlers provide a unique electronic warfare capability to NATO that can help defend our partners and allies from any future aggression. Just as importantly, tactical deployments of non-kinetic forces — like the Growler — can expand our preparedness while avoiding any unintentional escalation,” Stickles said.
“The Growler can prohibit Russian surface to air missiles from targeting NATO aircraft. Despite the Russian tactical setbacks, they retain the ability to track and down our aircraft should they decide. The Growler can protect our forces from early warning, tracking, and targeting radars,” he continued.
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