Drone Wars: Update – B-52 bombers at Fairford US Air Force Bomber Task Force B-52 deployment

The first two aircraft, from the US Air Force 5th Bomb Wing based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, arrived on 11 February following a flight over the Arctic and an exercise over Scandinavia involving Finnish, Swedish, and French aircraft.  A third aircraft arrived on 13 February, followed by a fourth which had been delayed by a technical fault on 15 February.

The mission rehearsed Fairford’s role as a forward attack operating location for USAF aircraft, and during the deployment the four bombers took part in thirteen joint training exercises with US allies across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.   

B52 bomber landing at Fairford on 11 February

Despite current media hysteria about a rift in military relations between the US and European nations, it was business as usual during the Bomber Task Force deployment.  Europe remains one of the US military’s most important areas of operation and the B-52s participated in exercises to demonstrate interoperability with aircraft from over 20 European NATO members and US allies.  The exercises were played for maximal promotional value by the US Air Force, which pumped out a constant stream of online photos, video, and reportage relating to the B-52s.

The first sortie from Fairford took place on 17 February, with two B-52s flying over France and the Mediterranean Sea to the Middle East.  Following in-flight refuelling close to Crete by KC-135 tanker aircraft from Mildenhall in Suffolk, the aircraft were visible on flight recorder software over Jordan, returning to Fairford 24 hours later.  US F-15E aircraft and aircraft from four other nations, including Iraq, accompanied the B-52s during the mission, during which live weapon drops were conducted at a number of bombing ranges in the area. 

The B-52s also flew to the Persian Gulf, and missions of this type are often intended, at least partially, to send a message to Iran. 

The second mission also flew to the Middle East, and shortly afterwards a US Navy MQ-4C Triton spy drone (similar to those which are intended to fly from Fairford – see below) was tracked flying very near to Iranian airspace in an area close to Iranian naval bases near the country’s southern border.

At around the same time aircrew visiting Fairford received a personal VIP visit from General Anthony J Cotton, Commander of US Strategic Command.  General Cotton’s aircraft also visited Leeds / Bradford airport and it appears likely that he also visited the US Menwith Hill signals intercept base during his visit.

A B-52 subsequent mission flew to Estonia, conducting a fly-over of the capital Tallinn to mark Estonian independence day and then following the border of Belarus and Russia, travelling to within 50 miles of Russia before returning to Fairford.  This was followed by a flight over Poland and Turkey to attack targets in Turkey and a flight to Bulgaria.

A B52 from RAF Fairford flying over Sweden

A particularly notable deployment took place at the beginning of March, when one of the B-52s flew with Israeli Air Force and Royal Air Force aircraft over the eastern Mediterranean Sea and along the coast of Israel.  The Israeli Defence Force said that during the flight “the forces practice operational coordination between the two militarise to enhance their ability to address various regional threats”.

During March missions continued over the Baltic Sea in partnership with aircraft from Finland and Sweden; to southern Europe to participate in an exercise dubbed Onyx Cross with Romanian, Croatian, and Bulgarian forces providing aerial protection during simulated attacks; and back to the Baltic to take part in exercise Fortress Hail, which saw a live weapons drop in Finland and collaboration with reconnaissance aircraft including British and US RC-135 ‘Rivet Joint’ reconnaissance aircraft.

Before leaving the B-52s took part in exercise Spartan Mace alongside Italian forces and bombed a military range near Sardinia island, and also conducted the first-ever US live weapons drop in Sweden at the Vidsel test range during the Viking Nebula exercise before flying low over the Swedish Parliament to mark the first anniversary of Stockholm’s NATO membership.

Another low-level flypast took place when the first pair of aircraft returned to the US on 14 March, with a B-52 flying over Akershus Fortress in Oslo at noon escorted by Norwegian F-35s.  The final pair of aircraft flew back over the Arctic on 17 March, participating en route in exercise Tower Citadel, a quick reaction alert test in which the B-52s were intercepted by aircraft from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

Although intended to ‘reassure’ NATO members of US commitment to Europe, such missions are considered highly provocative and intimidatory by nations against which they are targeted – Russia and Iran – and increase the risk that misunderstanding and miscalculation might inadvertently lead to genuine military action.

Bomber Task Force deployments take place regularly at Fairford and it is expected that another US Air Force heavy bomber deployment will take place later this year. 

Global Hawk spy drones

A USAF Global Hawk takes flight

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) remain in dialogue over long-term arrangements to allow routine flights by Global Hawk spy drones from Fairford.

Following a trial visit from a Global Hawk in August 2024, a review of flight arrangements - in particular over activation of a temporary danger area in which the drone is permitted to fly – was undertaken by the CAA.  The review identified two possible ‘mitigation strategies’ to prevent delays to flights into and out of Birmingham airport.  The MoD / US Air Force has said that one of these is not acceptable, but as yet no information has been published about steps that will be taken to reduce risks to civilian air traffic. 

In December 2024 the CAA said that the Airspace Change Proposal permitting drones to fly remains approved in general; “however, approval to activate the notified airspace structures by NOTAM [Notice to Airmen – a warning notice published for pilots] for operational flights in future are conditional on the sponsor providing evidence that any mitigation strategies or airspace modifications are agreed between the impacted stakeholders and all original conditions are met and all relevant evidence is submitted and assessed by CAA Airspace Regulation.”

This seems to suggest that the MoD is still working with the CAA to determine a long term solution to the problem, but in the meantime one-off visits could take place again with the necessary pre-planning and agreement between the authorities.

U-2 crewed spy aircraft have been at Fairford on indefinite deployment since 2019 and fly regularly from the base.  The U-2 is scheduled to leave service in 2026 and it appears that the US Air Force intends to replace U-2 capabilities at Fairford with Global Hawks.

NATO Exercise Ramstein Flag

On Wednesday 26 March Turkish and Romanian F-16 fighter aircraft, accompanied by support aircraft, arrived at Fairford to take part in the NATO exercise ‘Ramstein Flag 2025’.  The exercise commences on 31 March and finishes on 11 April 2025 and is hosted by the Netherlands.  Over 90 aircraft will take part representing 15 NATO nations and operating from 12 bases around Europe.    Flights to simulate air combat will take place over the Netherlands and the North Sea. Coningsby, Marham, Lakenheath, and Mildenhall air bases in the UK are also involved in the exercise as well as Fairford. 

Find out more!

Join researchers from Drone Wars UK at two forthcoming events to find out more about drones, US military bases, and new technologies for war fighting in the skies.

Wednesday 2 April, 19.30:  Chris Cole will talk about US spy drones at Fairford at a meeting organised by Faringdon Peace Group.  Friends Meeting House, Lechlade Road, Faringdon SN7 8AQ.  More details: 01367 241707.

Wednesday 23 April, 14.30: Peter Burt will talk about drones and emerging military technologies at a workshop at Lakenheath Peace Camp.  More details here.

You may also be interested in our latest report focused on drone proliferation and civilian casualties in African conflicts, which can be foundhere.

In solidarity, 

Drone Wars UK