Air Force turns to ERI funding for F-35 deployment

The Air Force used European Reassurance Initiative money to partly fund the first-ever Joint Strike Fighter training deployment to the region.

Eight jets from the 34th Fighter Squadron, based at Hill Air Force Base, UT, traveled to the United Kingdom and other European nations during an F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing variant training deployment last month.

The Pentagon's ERI account funded one-third of the cost, which totaled $5 million, according to a U.S. Air Forces in Europe spokesman.

The ERI account was established under the Obama administration in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea. This is the first time the funding was used to support the F-35 program.

Lt. Col. George Watkins, 34th Fighter Squadron commander, told reporters during a teleconference last month two of the eight jets were expected to join the squadron late after a pilot noticed a fuel tank valve problem on one of the aircraft.

The squadron kept another jet stateside so that the duo could make the transatlantic flight together, he added.

During their time in Europe, the pilots will participate in exercises focused on simulated training with weapons and one-on-one dogfighting. "We will do air-to-air and air-to-ground training while we're here," Watkins said.