In the recent past, a number of foreign politicians have accused Russia that our troops have occupied part of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. Often the loudest shouts of “stop the thief” are those who have an unclean conscience. We can, of course, remind these figures that the Russian military contingent is temporarily in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate leadership of the country to fight the Islamic State group, a terrorist organization recognized by the international community. However, those who accuse our country of all possible sins are thus only trying to disguise the failures in the fight against terrorist groups created by them and to justify interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. Despite the fact that more than 70 years have passed since the end of World War II, it would seem that Germany and Japan, which are absolutely self-sufficient in economic terms, are still actually under US occupation.
Today, American military contingents and defense facilities are located in more than 35 countries. More than 730 US military bases are located around the world. In Germany alone, there are 179 American installations, and in Japan - 109. According to rough estimates, it turns out that this is about 70 percent of foreign military bases worldwide. Thus, it is safe to say that the United States has built a real empire of foreign military bases, and it continues to grow.
In the past, the presence of American bases outside the United States was justified by the need to confront the Soviet Union. The Cold War is long over, but the Americans are in no hurry to drastically reduce their military presence abroad. At the moment, a kind of colonization of the world has developed by introducing agents of influence into the governments of countries that are potential competitors and deploying military power on their territory. So, in Japan, as of the second half of 2014, there were 49,503 military personnel, and about 38,826 American soldiers were stationed in Germany.
The area of responsibility of the US European Command (EUCOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, in addition to the territory of Europe itself, includes the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The largest US Air Force base in Germany is Ramstein Air Base. Its construction began in the early 50s. In 1973, the headquarters of the United States Air Force Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) was redeployed here. Ramstein Air Force Base is not only the largest in Germany, but also the largest stronghold of the American Air Force outside the United States. There are two runways with a length of 3200 and 2830 meters. In the past, the airbase was a storage site for B61 nuclear bombs and, although now aircraft carrying nuclear weapons are not based here, all the necessary infrastructure has been preserved in full.
Satellite image of Google earth: US military transport aircraft and tanker aircraft at Ramstein airbase
The airbase is currently used by the Air Mobility Command for the transshipment and transportation of military cargo and US personnel in Europe. There are about 30 military transport aircraft С-5В, С-17, С-130 and tanker aircraft KS-135 at the airbase on a permanent basis. In addition, Ramstein is home to an operational center for the management of anti-missile operations in Europe. In this regard, despite the end of the Cold War, the largest American facility in Germany remains among the top priority targets for Russian aviation and missiles.
Satellite image of Google earth: American F-16 fighters at Spandal airbase
In 1953, not far from the small town of Spandal, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, an air base of the same name was built. Initially, it was operated by the French occupation contingent, but after France's withdrawal from the NATO military structure, it was transferred to the United States.
F-16C / D fighters of the 52nd Fighter Wing are based at Spangdahlem Air Base. There are also 12 A-10C attack aircraft. The combat aircraft of the 52nd Air Wing are maintained in a high degree of combat readiness and regularly practice airlifting to other airfields.
Satellite image of Google earth: American A-10 attack aircraft at Spandal airbase
Air Base Geilenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia is the permanent base of E-3D AWACS aircraft and KS-135 tankers. Along with Waddington Air Force Base in the UK, Geilenkirchen is part of a radar guidance and detection program centered in Brunsum, Holland. E-3D, based in Germany, is operated by fighter air bases in Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Norway.
Satellite image of Google earth: E-3D AWACS aircraft at Geilenkirchen airbase
The ground forces of the US Army use several facilities in the FRG. In Eastern Bavaria, at the USAG Grafenwoehr base, there is a large tankport, which is operated by the Bundeswehr and the US Army. Grafenwehr has a number of Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
Satellite image of Google earth: American armored vehicles based on Grafenwehr
In Bavaria, about 300 km south-west of Berlin at the Illesheim airfield, the AH-64 Apache combat helicopters belonging to the 159th Aviation Regiment of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade of the US Army are based. The equipment and personnel of the 12th brigade took part in the hostilities in Southeast Asia, in the "Desert Shield" and "Desert Storm" operations, in the aggression against Yugoslavia, in the hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Satellite image of Google earth: AH-64 Apache attack helicopters at Illesheim airfield
The tasks of air defense of American military bases in Germany are assigned to the Patriot air defense system of the 10th Air and Missile Defense Command of the US Army (AAMDC). Currently, 4 anti-aircraft batteries are deployed in Germany.
Satellite image of Google earth: launchers of the Patriot air defense system in Germany
The United Kingdom, which is the closest ally of the United States, also hosts a number of important American facilities. So, at the Lakenheath airbase (RAF Lakenheath), the F-15C / D fighters of the 48th fighter wing are deployed. This is the only place in Europe where American F-15 fighters are permanently located.
Satellite image of Google earth: F-15 fighters at Lakenheath air base
At Mildenhall airbase, the KS-135 tanker aircraft of the 100th wing of air tankers, the CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors of the 7th special operations squadron and MC-130J Commando II of the 67th special operations squadron are based. Also, for the intermediate landings of American strategic bombers B-52H, the RAF Leuchars airbase in Scotland is involved.
Satellite image of Google earth: American tanker aircraft and B-52H bomber at Leuhars airbase
To control the airspace over the North Atlantic, E-3D AWACS aircraft from RAF Waddington are used. Here reconnaissance aircraft RC-135V / W regularly make intermediate landings.
Satellite image of Google earth: E-3D AWACS aircraft at Waddington airbase
Not far from the town of Croughton there is an American communications center and a reconnaissance center for tracking and radio interception (RAF Croughton). Officially, it collects information of a defense nature and monitors terrorist threats. However, the presence of this facility in the UK has repeatedly been the object of criticism in connection with the known facts of wiretapping and hacking of e-mails of a number of European politicians.
Satellite image of Google earth: intelligence center in Crawton
The American military presence in the British Isles is not limited to combat and military transport and reconnaissance aircraft and wiretapping stations. In the UK, in Faylingdales, the AN / FPS-132 missile attack warning system is operating. A unique feature of the radar station located in Filingdales is the presence of a third antenna mirror, which makes it possible to scan space in a circular manner. The AN / FPS-132 early warning radar is an essential element of the American missile defense system. Together with radar stations in Clear in Alaska and Tula in Greenland, it is operatively subordinate to the United States Aerospace Defense Command.
Satellite image of Google earth: AN / FPS-132 radar in Filingdales
Early warning radars are also available in Greenland at Thule Air Base. In the late 80s, the Americans replaced the old AN / FPS-49 early warning systems in Greenland with the AN / FPS-123 radar, upgrading it to the AN / FPS-132 level. But unlike the radar at Faylingdales, the radar at Thule has two mirrors that control eastward.
Satellite image of Google earth: radar AN / FPS-132 in Tula
In the past, Thule airbase was used as an intermediate airfield for B-52 strategic bombers carrying thermonuclear bombs on combat patrols. This practice was discontinued after a B-52G bomber carrying four B28 hydrogen bombs crashed in the area on January 21, 1968. As a result, coastal waters and the coastline were contaminated with radioactive materials. Until the early 90s, F-15 interceptors were on alert in Tula.
In the late 90s in Norway, near the city of Vardø, the AN / FPS-129 Have Stare radar, also known as "Globus-II", began operation. According to the statements of representatives of the US Department of Defense, its task is to collect information about "space debris". However, the main purpose of this radar is to track Russian missile launches at the Plesetsk test site. Recently it became known about plans to build a more advanced radar "Globus-III" in the area.
Satellite image of Google earth: radar "Globus-II" in Norway
The geographic location of the radar facility in Norway bridges the gap in geosynchronous coverage of radar tracking between the radars in Massachusetts and the radar in Kwajalein Atoll.
In Italy, the F-16C / D fighter jets of the 31st Fighter Wing are based at the Aviano Air Base, which is under the control of the US military. There is also a B61 nuclear bombs storage facility.
Satellite image of Google earth: storage of nuclear bombs at Aviano airbase
The headquarters of the US Naval Forces in Europe (NAVFOREUR) is located in Naples, Italy. The operational command of the US 6th Fleet is also located here. The flagship of the Sixth Fleet, the USS Mount Whitney, is assigned to the Italian port of Gaeta. Since 2005, ships of the Sixth Fleet have been increasingly operating around Africa.
Satellite image of Google earth: control ship Mount Whitney in the Italian port of Gaeta
The Jafar Naval Base (HMS Jufair) in Manama, Bahrain was formerly used by the British Navy. At the moment, the Naval Support Activity Bahrain has been established here, operating in the interests of the Fifth Fleet of the US Navy. The Fifth Fleet is responsible for the Persian Gulf, the Arabian and Red Seas, and part of the Indian Ocean.
Satellite image of Google earth: American landing ships in Bahrain
Quite often, large American warships visit the Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest man-made harbor to date and the busiest port in the Middle East. Jebel Ali Port is the most visited US Navy warship outside the United States. The depth of the harbor and the size of the piers allow the deployment of Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and escort ships.
Satellite image of Google earth: US Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in Port Jebel Ali
Sigonella Naval Air Field in Sicily is shared by the US and Italian navies. The location of the airbase allows it to be used to control the Mediterranean Sea and the North African coast. In the past, AWACS aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and the Global Hawk UAV operated from here. Also, this airfield is used for the temporary placement of carrier-based aircraft. At the moment, tanker aircraft, transport and anti-submarine aircraft are located here on a permanent basis.
Satellite image of Google earth: aircraft P-3C and C-130 at the Sigonella airfield
An important link in supporting the activities of US military aviation in the Middle East is the Spanish Moron Air Base. In addition to the US Air Force aircraft, the Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and the Spanish Air Force P-3S patrol aircraft are based here. In May 2015, the Spanish government approved an agreement to provide the US Rapid Reaction Force with a permanent presence at the base. At the same time, the number of American aircraft can be increased to 40 units.
Satellite image of Google earth: tanker aircraft KS-135R and KS-46A at Moron airbase
In 2001, the base provided a record number of airlift, stopovers and spinning fighters for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2003, Moron airbase became one of the most important elements in the implementation of air transport and refueling of fighters during the invasion of Iraq. In 2011, the base once again proved its strategic importance by becoming an airfield for the air tankers KC-10A and KC-135R, which refuel attack vehicles operating over Libya. In 2013, a 550-man Marine Corps was deployed at Moron Base. For their operational transfer, MV-22B convertiplanes and KC-130J tankers are intended.
Another key US airbase providing "power projection" in the Middle East is the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, with a 3,048-meter concrete runway. The airbase is shared by the Turkish, Saudi and American Air Forces. On the territory of the base there are more than 50 highly protected shelters for aircraft, and American B61 thermonuclear bombs are also stored here.
Satellite image of Google earth: storage of aviation ammunition at the Inzhirlik airbase
The Inzhirlik airfield was actively used in the framework of Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in the 2003 Iraqi Company.
Satellite image of Google earth: American attack aircraft A-10C at Inzhirlik airbase
After the escalation of the internal armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, the American military presence at the base has grown significantly. At the moment, in addition to the Turkish F-4 fighters, there are 12 American KC-135R air tankers, C-130J military transport aircraft, P-3C base patrol aircraft, F-16C and F-15E fighter-bombers, and A-10C attack aircraft.
Satellite image of Google earth: basic patrol aircraft R-3C and MQ-9 Reaper drones at Inzhirlik airbase
On July 29, 2015, Ankara signed an agreement with the United States on the joint use of the Incirlik airbase in Turkey in the campaign against the Islamic State. As part of this agreement, US Air Force combat aircraft and drones were cleared for combat missions against IS. In addition to combat aircraft, the MQ-9 Reaper strike and reconnaissance UAVs were also transferred to the airbase.
