As we all know the US is planning to redistribute its focus to Asia. This means more units deployed to Asia or rotated to Asia. The Navy will have 60% of its fleet assigned to Pacific.
With potential future budget cuts as well as possible changes in China relationship, this could be further adjusted in Pacific’s favour.
Right now NATO is highly reliant on US for many major functions – logistics, strategic transport, air to air refuelling, ISR, E3, ELINT, SEAD/DEAD and specialist ground attack (A-10A/C, AC-130, MQ-1).
Some of these assets are already being pulled out of European theatre – e.g. the only USAFE squadron with A-10A/C is scheduled to deactivate (and would appear to have already commenced deactivation: http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?p=609334 ).
Also no F-22s have been deployed to USAFE though PACAF has 3 squadrons, and units in Japan are some of the first scheduled to get the F-35.
In Libya and Mali, we can see the US allowing NATO partners to take lead roles in actions with US support.
So what role does the European Air Force have in an Asian Century?
The Europeans seem lacking in many capabilities as listed above. Despite the low scale of Mali operation, NATO still had to chip in with tactical and strategic transport despite France having the most potent military in Europe.
Would the Europeans be able to conduct operations ala Kosovo 1999 or even Libya 2011 with limited access to US resources?
Are the Europeans planning to be militarily engaged in any US military operations in Asian region? E.g. would a war against China result in NATO forces being sent to Pacific?
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January 23, 2013 at 10:32 pm