The Netherlands has sent two F-35 fighters to protect NATO airspace over Eastern Europe amid Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, the Dutch Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The Dutch defence ministry wrote on Twitter: “Two F-35 fighters are currently deployed to protect NATO airspace over Eastern Europe.

“The Netherlands expresses allied solidarity and contributes, especially now, to maintain the integrity of the NATO zone.’’

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions.

It has an unmatched ability to evade enemy detection and enter contested airspace.

Advanced electronic warfare capabilities locate and track enemy forces, jam radars, and disrupt attacks.

The F-35 Helmet is one of the most advanced pieces of technology on the planet.

On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation against Ukraine.

In a televised speech, the Russian leader said the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk republics requested help from Russia to counter Ukraine’s military aggression.

The Russian defence ministry said the army did not target Ukrainian cities, so there was no threat to the civilians. 

(Sputnik/NAN)