MOSCOW, June 12 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The United States plans to reduce the number of fighter aircraft assigned to NATO operations in Europe by roughly one-third, The New York Times reported on Friday, citing a document.

Washington informed its European allies of the decision in early June, the newspaper reported, adding that it had reviewed excerpts of the communication.

The plans reportedly call for reducing the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets allocated to Europe from about 150 to 100.

The number of maritime surveillance aircraft will be cut from 26 to 15, while all eight aerial refueling tankers previously assigned to European operations will be withdrawn, the report said.

In addition, the US plans to redeploy one missile-armed submarine, one aircraft carrier, several warships and dozens of aircraft currently involved in carrier strike group missions, the newspaper reported.

One of the two bomber task forces previously designated for Europe's defense will reportedly also be reassigned to another region.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar