Pentagon's Money-Saver: U.S. Troops To Leave 15 European Sites - NPR

The Pentagon announced a plan on Thursday to save a half-billion dollars annually in a major scaling back of the U.S. military presence in Europe — including a withdrawal from an airbase in the U.K. and handing back 14 other sites to NATO allies.

It also said that its presence at one British airbase would be beefed up as part of a planned deployment of the F-35 fighter aircraft.

The U.S. has more than 60,000 troops stationed primarily in Britain, Germany and Italy. The changes would affect mainly the Army and Air Force.

The Associated Press notes: "The restructuring will take place over the next several years, and the first F-35 aircraft would arrive in the U.K. in 2020. They will replace F-15 fighter jets, which are leaving."

Two operational squadrons of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter are eventually to be stationed at RAF Lakenheath, about 70 miles northeast of London.

Facilities in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Portugal would be closed between 2018 and 2021 under the plan, according to The Hill.

A Department of Defense statement on Thursday says that the plan, known as the European Infrastructure Consolidation, will enhance readiness while reducing funding:   Read More at  U.S. Troops To Leave 15 European Sites