The United States reportedly planning an expansion of a European military base to house nuclear-capable fighter jets, as it looks to counter the growing threat of Russia.
Government procurement contracts reportedly show plans to enhance the facilities at Kecskemet air base in Hungary as part of Washington’s European Defence Initiative.
The project was revealed in an online notice, with the works described as being necessary to “accommodate North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-equivalent Tactical Fighter Aircraft (TFA) and Strategic Transport Aircraft.”
It’s envisaged that planes accommodated at the base will include the F-15 Eagle, an all-weather fighter aircraft capable of dropping B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs, as well as A-10 Warthog, and C-5 Galaxy transport jets, according to the report.
The US has a strong presence in Europe, with bases across the continent including in Germany and the UK.
An implementation agreement was signed with Budapest in July 2021 allowing the US to access Kecskemét air base, and the Pápa air base, an old soviet air force fighter facility in the west of the country, as per Newsweek.
That same year, another memorandum allowed the US access to Tata and Várpalota Garrisons.
US F-15 and F-16 fighters have previously been stationed at Kecskemet while training exercises were being held, but not on permanent deployments, according to The Telegraph.
As part of the project, a parking apron will be installed at the Hungarian base for tactical fighter jets, as well as a parallel taxiway, new lighting and a cargo delivery roadway to the site, as well as a $21 million (£17.4m) jet fuel storage facility.
The works come amid horror warnings from intelligence bosses that Russia could be ready to launch an attack on NATO by the end of the decade.
Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, said the Kremlin wants to divide the West, weaken support for Ukraine and lay the ground for a potential war with NATO. It’s feared a Russian attack on a country in the military alliance would trigger the alliance’s Article 5, dragging America and Britain into a war.
“Putin will continue to test the West’s red lines and further escalate the confrontation,” Kahl said, adding: “The Russian armed forces will probably be in a position, in terms of personnel and material, to launch an attack against NATO by the end of this decade at the latest.
“Whether we like it or not, we are in a direct confrontation with Russia.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry plans to enlist 133,000 young men for mandatory military service in the second half of this year, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian military will have conscripted 283,000 men by the end of 2024, including the 150,000 troops drafted in the spring. Putin’s administration is also drastically increasing military spending, Kahl warned.
The latest planned increase in spending will take Russia’s defence budget to a record 13.5tn rubles (£109bn) in 2025, up 25 percent on the previous year.
According to Kahl direct confrontation between Moscow and the U.S.-led military alliance was “becoming an option” for the Kremlin. The US has been gradually bolstering its defences in Europe since Vladimir Putin‘s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The Kecskemet air base upgrades are part of wider efforts by Nato strengthen its eastern borders with Russia, as the US and NATO allies of Ukraine continue to provide Kyiv with military aid to support the country’s war effort.
Top Russian officials have previously said Moscow would respond with “counter-measures” to any increased US presence in Europe.