US Forces Intensify Operations at RAF Fairford Ahead of Iran Strike Campaign

US military personnel and ground crews have been seen preparing explosive ordnance at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, as Washington ramps up its strike capability against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that today would mark the "most intense" day of US strikes, deploying the largest number of fighters and bombers to date.

The British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, granted the United States permission to use RAF Fairford for defensive operations aimed at neutralising Iranian missile sites. Since Friday, the base has hosted three B‑52 Stratofortress bombers—each capable of carrying up to 24 cruise missiles—and four B‑1 Lancer bombers.

RAF Fairford’s 3‑kilometre runway, one of the longest in the UK, makes it an ideal launch point for large strategic bombers. The B‑1, nicknamed “the Bone,” weighs 86 tonnes, measures 146 ft (44.5 m) in length, and can exceed 900 mph (1,448 km/h). Equipped with advanced radar, GPS, electronic jammers and decoy systems, it is the fastest bomber in the U.S. Air Force.

Alongside the bombers, C‑17 transport aircraft have been spotted ferrying munitions and spare parts. The B‑52s, first introduced in the 1950s, remain a key component of the U.S. long‑range strike fleet.

The intensified activity follows the joint U.S.–Israel attack on Iran on 28 February, which triggered retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. installations in the Middle East. While the United Kingdom has not joined the offensive, it has allowed U.S. forces to use RAF Fairford for defensive purposes.

RAF Fairford, situated on the Gloucestershire–Wiltshire border, has historically served as a staging ground for U.S. heavy bombing missions and is one of the few European bases certified to operate B‑1, B‑52 and B‑2 bombers.