The Florida Air National Guard’s 125FW has deployed to Europe, and is the first Air National Guard unit to deploy as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is a direct response to Russia’s recent actions in Ukraine. The Theater Security Package (TSP) of 200 airmen and a dozen of the unit’s Boeing F-15 Eagles join A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 355FW that have also deployed to Europe on a TSP tasking.
The FANG airmen are expected to be in theater for six months, but will conduct numerous training exercises with other NATO partners while in Europe. The goal is to build upon working relationships with other nations, as well as provide an in-theater deterrent to further aggression.
According to the US Air Forces in Europe press release, “the TSP is a strategic capability that allows the Air Force greater flexibility against evolving threats,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander. A deployment such as this “reassures our allies and partner nations that our commitment to European security is a priority.”
With the F-15s of the 493FS already in theater by nature of being based in the UK, the 125FW jets will augment their active duty counterparts in the air superiority mission. A while ago, we discussed the importance of keeping the F-15s in Europe, and our leaders have now gone so far as to send even more to the region.