As preparations for possible war in the Middle East continue, the only US Air Force base in Europe which has the F-15 fighter jet will get 10 more of the aircraft.

RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, has already taken delivery of two of the new F-15E Strike Eagles.

The jets cost more than �20m each.

A base spokesman said the two jets which arrived on Friday are the first new aircraft at RAF Lakenheath in six years.

We, along with our British hosts, have been to war in the region a couple of times, and we've done very well

Lt Col Kent Laughbaum USAF 48th Fighter Wing

Eight more will follow over the coming weeks, bringing the total to 82.

The jets are designed to fight their way into hostile territory, hit ground targets with laser-guided bombs and then fight their way out.

Lieutenant Colonel Kent Laughbaum, commander of the 48th Fighter Wing said the global positioning system weapons on the planes are "the kind of weapons we might need to use in a conflict".

He said the fighter squadron at Lakenheath has "a long, storied history in combat" in the Middle East.

"We, along with our British hosts, have been to war in the region a couple of times, and we've done very well."

The delivery of the new aircraft followed the arrival of four F117 Nighthawk stealth jets from New Mexico for an exercise on the base in October.

In March, 2003, the base will stage a full-scale exercise under NATO supervision.