A fleet of about 15 US military F-15 fighter jets have been spotted at the Pt Salines International Airport in Grenada. The aircraft form part of US President Barack Obama Security detail for the Fifth Summit of the Americas which will officially begin tomorrow. According to the Grenada Broadcast Web site, “Freelance photographer Nazim Benjamin captured the aircraft on the tarmac of the Pt Salines Airport on the evening of April 14, 2009.” On March 14, the T&T Guardian exclusively reported that 25 F-15 fighter jets were to be parked at the Crown Point International Airport, Tobago.

According to sources, “after the Guardian report, there was a fallout with Venezuela President Hugo Chavez who got upset and telephoned his counterparts here in Trinidad to find out why permission was granted to the US, but was refused to his government.” But a government official later denied the report and said, “The Government of T&T will not be granting permission to any country to land fighter jets on local territory as part of the security arrangements for the Summit of the Americas.” The Guardian also reported that the US air assets were expected to be relocated to neighbouring Barbados and other Caribbean countries.

Mission

The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely manoeuvrable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy over the battlefield.

Features
The Eagle can penetrate enemy defence and outperform and outfight any current enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic systems and weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. The weapons and flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and effectively perform air-to-air combat.