US could send premium stealth fighter jet to protect Europe from Russia

Europe could soon be protected from Russia's military resurgence by the US Air Force's cutting edge F-22 Raptor stealth fighters according to a top US official.

Defence ministers from Lithuania and Poland confirmed media reports over the weekend that the US is contemplating sending heavy weapons, armored vehicles and tanks to Eastern European allies who feel threatened by Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Russia responded by threatening to do the same on its western border.

Now, the Pentagon is also looking at boosting Europe's defence capabilities in the sky, according to US Air Force service secretary Deborah Lee Jones, who was quoted in the Wall Street Journal. She told journalists at the Paris Air Show yesterday that the service is planning to "increase rotation" of existing patrol flights in Europe and could send F-22 fighter jets to bolster Nato defences over the continent.

"The biggest threat on my mind is what is happening in Russia. That is a big part of why I am here," James said. "This is a serious business we are facing in Russia."

Jones said the F-22 could join the planes which are currently patrolling European airspace. The jet was described as "the most sophisticated and expensive" warplane in the US arsenal when it was sent to perform airstrikes on Isis last year.

Russia has dramatically increased unannounced military flights of both bombers and fighters near European and Nato airspace since relations between Moscow and the West soured over the Ukraine crisis.

Former Communist republics such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as other European states which neighbour Russia such as Finland and Norway, have repeatedly complained of Russian planes appearing near their territory.

Jones said that the US had already increased air patrols in the Baltic and given B-2 stealth bombers and B-52 bombers to the UK, in a bid to beef up European defences. Part of her visit to Europe will include speaking with Nato members about contributing more to the continent's collective defence and reversing cuts to defence budgets.

Despite a record number of interceptions of Russian aircraft by Nato allies since the start of the war in Ukraine, defence spending on the continent has fallen almost across the board with the UK mulling a £1bn (€1.39bn) cut to its defence budget before next month. Until now the UK has been one of only four members of Nato to meet the pledge made by all members in Wales last year to spend 2% of GDP on defence. The other states are the US, Greece and Estonia.

European and Nato states have already begun some efforts into reinforcing defence capabilities as the alliance is currently increasing its rapid reaction force to 30,000 and building six command centres on its eastern border.

Non-Nato members have also stepped up defence plans as Finland's air force recently performed its first bombing of ground targets since WWII during a drill.