U.S. F-22 fighter jets arrive in Germany for training deployment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four advanced U.S. F-22 fighter jets arrived in Germany on Friday for the jet's first-ever training deployment to Europe, where they will train with allied air forces and U.S. services through mid-September, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement. General Frank Gorenc, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, said the inaugural training deployment was "the perfect opportunity" for the radar-evading fighter jets to train alongside other U.S. aircraft and those of key allies. The jets, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base, about 20 miles northeast of Trier, Germany, along with one Boeing Co C-17 transport jet and about 60 Air Force personnel, according to an Air Force statement. The jets are expected to visit other air bases in eastern Europe, including Poland. U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James first announced the deployment on Monday, describing it as part of a broader effort to support eastern European members of the NATO alliance unnerved by Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Gorenc said the training would test the ability of fifth generation fighters to deploy successfully to European bases and other NATO installations, while helping pilots become more familiar with European terrain. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Leslie Adler)