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Six of the Boeing-built electronic warfare aircraft have been deployed to a German base in a bid to enhance NATO’s defence posture.
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The US Department of Defense has announced the deployment of six US Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
The Growlers will be accompanied by about 240 air crew, aircraft maintainers, and pilots.
The deployment aims to strengthen air integration capabilities with NATO allies, in a bid to “bolster readiness” and enhance NATO’s “collective defence posture”.
The Pentagon stressed the aircraft would not be deployed against Russian forces in Ukraine, but would instead support deterrence along NATO’s eastern flank — unrelated to a perceived threat or incident.
Press Secretary John Kirby said the move follows consultation between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Commander of the US European Command, US Air Force General Tod Wolters, and the German government.
“This deployment is a prudent decision to continue to re-evaluate our force posture on NATO's eastern flank,” Press Secretary Kirby added.
The Pentagon's deployment of EA-18G Growlers to Germany comes just weeks after US President Joe Biden announced an additional US$800 million ($1.09 billion) in direct security assistance to Ukraine, aimed at supporting the nation’s resistance to Russian aggression.
The assistance package included:
- 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
- 2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armour weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armour systems;
- 100 tactical unmanned aerial systems;
- 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, and 400 shotguns;
- over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds;
- 25,000 sets of body armour; and
- 25,000 helmets.
This is expected to replenish stock previously delivered to Ukraine, and builds on an initial security assistance package, which included:
- five Mi-17 helicopters;
- three patrol boats;
- four counter-artillery and counter-unmanned aerial system tracking radars;
- four counter-mortar radar systems;
- 200 shotguns and 200 machine guns;
- 70 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and other vehicles;
- secure communications, electronic warfare detection systems, body armour, helmets, and other tactical gear;
- military medical equipment to support treatment and combat evacuation;
- explosive ordnance disposal and demining equipment; and
- satellite imagery and analysis capability.
The US is also exploring longer-range systems for trained Ukrainian forces.
This latest assistance package took the combined value of military equipment supplied to Ukraine to US$2 billion ($2.7 billion) since the Biden administration entered the White House.
However, US assistance notably omits any commitment to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, despite Poland’s offer to supply MiC-29 aircraft.
[Related: US ramps up military assistance to Ukraine]
