Approximately 150 airmen from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, deployed to Bulgaria July 11 to take part in the two-week training exercise dubbed Immediate Response that pairs US and Bulgarian forces, reports Stars and Stripes. Ten F-15E Strike Eagles from the 492nd are scheduled to fly to Bulgaria for the start of the exercise on July 19. The 492nd plans to conduct air-to-air training with Bulgarian MiG-21s and MiG-29s.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
