Military.com reported Gen. Campbell commander U.S. Army Europe, is exploring pre-positioning about 100 Bradley and Abrams armor vehicles in Eastern Europe and extending the current presence of US troops in Poland, Lithuania and Estonia.
As discussed on GruntsandCo, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and continued buildup on Ukraine’s border prompted the US to deploy an airborne company to Poland, Lithuania and Estonia. Several months later troops from the 173rd Airborne BDE were replaced by mechanized troops from the 1st Cavalry Division. The US has maintained a presence since.
The current presence is largely symbolic as it averages to about one company. Prepositioning armor at the discussed level would only double the US presence but allow for an almost overnight capability to double troops on the ground. Placing 100 or more armor vehicles per nation would equate to about a battalion’s strength where at least a BDE would be necessary to serve as even a tripwire.