The US is moving F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle fighter jets to Israel along with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 08.10.2023, 22:10
The US is moving F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle fighter jets to Israel along with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford

Along with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the US Department of Defence has decided to send a number of aircraft to Israel, including fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters.

Here's What We Know

We wrote that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) has travelled to the eastern Mediterranean accompanied by five Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. The missile cruiser USS Normandy is also with it.

The US Air Force has sent several squadrons of aircraft to Israel. Fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters joined the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the iconic A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft known as the Warthog.

The carrier strike group, based in Norfolk, Virginia, was already in the region. Last week it took part in a naval exercise with Italy in the Ionian Sea. Note that for the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), this is the first full deployment. The world's largest aircraft carrier arrived in Europe in early 2023.

Source: Stars & Stripes