林源
By Lin Yuan
为进一步强化对俄战略施压力度，美空军日前重新“激活”第495战斗机中队。据悉，该中队将成为美军驻欧洲首个配备F-35A的五代机中队。有评论指出，美军此举既有强化对俄战略威慑之意，也旨在为千疮百孔的F-35战机项目“遮羞”。
To further ramp up the strategic pressure on Russia, the US Air Force recently reactivated the 495th Fighter Squadron, which will be the first Europe-based US Air Force F-35A squadron. Commentators said the move was intended to intensify the strategic deterrence to Russia while putting a fig leaf on the limped F-35 fighter program.
据美国《空军》杂志报道，经过多年准备，10月1日，美空军在英国莱肯希思空军基地重新启用第495战斗机中队。据悉，该中队将由27架战机和大约60人组成。美军此次重启驻欧五代机中队，主要有两方面的战略考量。
American Air Force magazine reported that the US Air Force officially activated the 495th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath in the UK on October 1 after many years of preparations. Comprising 27 fighter jets and about 60 crew members, the squadron is activated for two strategic considerations.
一方面，强化对俄战略威慑。美军声称，俄罗斯与白俄罗斯日前举行的“西部-2021”大规模军演，参演兵力创下“西部”系列演习历史之最，对以美国为首的北约形成强大震慑美军选择在此时重启驻欧五代机中队，很大程度上是为了在与俄战略博弈中占据有利态势，同时兑现对北约盟国的防务承诺。
For one thing, it intends to ramp up the strategic deterrence to Russia. The US military claimed that the Zapad 2021 joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise, with the largest number of participating troops in the exercise’s history, posed a strong deterrence to the US-led NATO. Reactivating the fifth-generation fighter squadron at this juncture, the US military aims to occupy a vantage point in the strategic struggle with Moscow while honoring its defense commitment to NATO allies.
值得注意的是，美空军两架F-35A战机最近在首次完整武器系统演示期间，试射了B61-12精确制导核炸弹。由于B61系列核炸弹主要部署在欧洲国家，美军为F-35A战机添加核能力，将为这款战机在欧洲地区带来战略级别的能力和战略层面的影响。
It’s worth noting that US Air Force’s two F-35A fighter jets recently test-fired the B61-12precision-guided nuclear bomb during the first complete weapon system demonstration. As the B61 nuclear bombs are mainly deployed in Europe, adding the nuclear capability to the F-35A will enhance its strategic capability and influence in the region.
另一方面，扭转战机负面舆论。F-35战机项目一直以来被诟病价格高昂、性能低劣，且存在重大泄密隐患。美军F-35战机项目负责人坦言，在已交付美空军、海军、海军陆战队和国际客户的F-35战机中，只有51%适于飞行，较老批次的飞机存在可靠性问题。可以预见,伴随着美军重启驻欧五代机中队，美俄两国在欧洲的军备竞赛或将进一步升级。欧洲安全将面临更严峻考验。
For another, the US wants to reverse the negative public opinions on the F-35 fighter program, which has been slammed for excessively high price, poor performance and major confidentiality risk. According to the person responsible for the program, only 51% of the F-35 fighter jets that have been delivered to the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and international clients are suitable for flight, and the older batches have reliability problems. It’s foreseeable that the reactivation will further escalate the US-Russia arms race in Europe, exposing regional security to more severe tests.
据称到2030年，美国与其盟国及合作伙伴在欧洲将有450架F-35战机。这些战机可相互组网，将北约陆、海、空主战装备进行整合。另外，美官方宣称，F-35的传感器可跨领域、跨平台与地面、海上和空中其他力量共享关键信息，这将进一步改变欧洲空战战术战法。
It is said that the US and its allies and partners will have 450 F-35 fighter jets by 2030, which will interoperate to integrate the main battle equipment of NATO’s army, navy and air forces. The US also declared that the sensor installed on the F-35 can share key information with other ground, naval and air forces across domains and platforms, which will further change Europe’s air battle tactics.
此外，美陆军还宣布于9月中旬在欧洲启动了一支多域特遣部队，主要用于在欧洲方向对抗俄罗斯。美官员称这支部队将在陆、海、空、天、网络以及电子战领域，为美军欧洲司令部指挥官带来重要能力。
The US Army announced that it activated a multi-domain task force in Europe in mid-September to counter Russia. US military officials said the task force will bring “significant capability” to the commander of U.S. Army to Europe and Africa.
以美国为首的北约强化欧洲军力部署、加大对俄战略打压的做法，将使地区局势更趋恶化。不过，需要指出的是，当前，美欧在欧洲地区的利益诉求各不相同，双方对俄态度也不尽一致。从阿富汗近日的局势走向不难看出，美国从不顾及其他国家的利益，对盟友的承诺也是“口惠而实不至”，这使得有关欧洲国家在处理对俄问题时将更加谨慎。
By reinforcing military deployments in Europe and ramping up strategic suppression on Russia, the US-led NATO has dragged the European situation further down. It must be pointed out that the US and Europe have different interest demands in the European region now, hence different attitudes toward Russia. The latest developments in the Afghan situation show that Washington never makes considerations for the interests of other countries, and its promise to allies always stays on the lips only. As a result, European countries have become more cautious when dealing with Moscow.
