US Air Force moves refueling mission from Germany to Poland: report

The US Air Force is moving its refueling mission from Germany to Poland in a move designed to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank and reassure allies in the region, an American military newspaper has reported.

Photo:

Polish Ministry of Defence/twitter.com/MON_GOV_PL

According to the Stars and Stripes newspaper, US Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard tankers that deploy to Europe will now operate primarily from Powidz Air Base in west-central Poland instead of Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.

Stars and Stripes cited the US Air Force as saying that, in the coming months, 19 tanker units based stateside would be deployed to Powidz, with several planned operations to support NATO activities.

In the coming months, 19 tanker units based stateside are slated to come to the Polish town of Powidz, with several planned operations supporting NATO activities. https://t.co/J7x1xtcwvN

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) April 26, 2023

The aircraft in Powidz could be tasked with refueling combat jets, including the world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35A Lightning II, potentially extending the range of NATO missions, according to a Stars and Stripes article by Jennifer H. Svan.

The eastward surge is another example of US efforts to create a durable presence in Poland, a vital NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine, the article said.

(gs)

Source: tysol.pl, stripes.com, airandspaceforces.com