The bombers are likely to operate from the UK’s RAF Fairford airbase for strikes in Iran—eliminating the need for the “CONUS-to-CONUS” missions of the war’s early days.
Four United States B-1B Lancer long-range strategic bombers are now operating at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire. The first aircraft arrived from the United States on Friday, followed by the other three on Saturday morning. It marks the first deployment of the B-1Bs to the UK this year.
Aviation spotters on social media announced the arrival of the aircraft at RAF Fairford.
“1 x USAF B-1 arriv[ed] into RAF Fairford this afternoon,” wrote Planes Out The Window, an aviation enthusiast who lives near the airbase, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The last time any Lancers operated from the British Isles was during last summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the largest military air show in the world, which was also held at RAF Fairford.
The aircraft aren’t taking part in flight demonstrations during this deployment, though. Instead, they are likely to operate from the base to aid in the ongoing Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
Last week, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that three B-1B Lancers had flown CONUS-to-CONUS missions from Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, to hit targets in the Islamic Republic. (“CONUS” stands for “Continental United States,” meaning that the bombers would need to fly all the way from America to the Middle East and back.)
The long-haul flight was necessary after UK officials initially refused to allow the United States military to carry out strikes on Iran from UK bases. After Tehran launched missile and drone attacks throughout the Middle East and then targeted the RAF base on Cyprus, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed course and said he would allow the US to use the British bases to conduct bombing missions.
That would cut flight times roughly in half and significantly reduce the workload on US tankers supporting the missions.
The arrival of the B-1Bs at RAF Fairford was widely expected even before London officially announced its decision, as US Air Force transport aircraft and personnel had to arrive at the base days earlier, The Aviationist first reported.
About the B-1B Lancer
- Year Introduced: 1985
- Number Built: 104
- Length: 146 ft (44.5 meters)
- Height: 34 ft (10.4 meters)
- Wingspan: 79 ft (24.1 meters)
- Weight (MTOW): 477,000 lb (216,364 kilograms)
- Engines: Four General Electric F101-GE-102 afterburning turbofan engines
- Top Speed: Mach 1.25 (approx. 925 mph, 1,490 km/h)
- Range: 6,500 nmi (7,480 mi, 12,000 km)
- Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
- Payload:
- Internal – 75,000 lb (34,019 kg)
- External – 50,000 lb (22,679 kg)
- Aircrew: Four, including an aircraft commander, copilot, and two weapon systems officers (offensive and defensive)
The Rockwell B-1B Lancer formally entered service 40 years ago as a nuclear bomber, but following the end of the Cold War, it was redesigned to only carry conventional weapons in accordance with treaty limits.
The B-1B and the B-2 Spirit have been the primary strike aircraft in the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. However, the United States Air Force currently operates more than twice as many B-1Bs as B-2s, with 45 in service after the fleet was reduced from 62 aircraft in recent years. The remaining B-1Bs are stationed at Dyess AFB, Texas, and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.
Starmer Is “Not Churchill,” Trump Says
Before Starmer agreed to allow the hosting of US bombers to support Operation Epic Fury, President Donald Trump called into question the UK’s commitment to supporting its closest ally. Trump launched a personal attack against Starmer, suggesting that the PM was “not Winston Churchill” for his refusal to support the mission.
Some in the UK’s opposition have also criticized the current administration for its lack of more active involvement.
Conservative Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, who has earned a reputation for being a firebrand, said Starmer was sitting on the fence and that he was “too scared to make foreign interventions” and added that the UK was “in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.”
The Royal Navy has announced plans to dispatch its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, to the eastern Mediterranean. That decision came after France announced that the Marine Nationale’s flagship, Charles de Gaulle, was deployed to the region.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
