The US Has Redeployed B-1 And B-52 Strategic Bombers To Strike Iran
- 12.03.2026, 13:06
The planes are now flying missions closer to the Middle East.
The United States has deployed Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Rockwell B-1B Lancer strategic bombers to RAF Fairford Air Base in the United Kingdom, from where they are now striking targets in Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, writes Forbes.
Strengthening bombing campaign
Five B-1B bombers have reportedly arrived at the British base, while three more have been temporarily diverted to Ramstein base due to unfavorable weather conditions. In addition, three B-52 bombers arrived at Fairford on Monday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth told reporters that airstrikes on Iran would "increase dramatically," indicating a possible expansion of the operation.
According to military observers, the B-1Bs can carry GBU-31 JDAM precision-guided bombs with BLU-109 warheads designed to hit fortified underground targets.
Why the bombers were moved to Britain
Some of the bombers previously flew missions directly from the US, particularly from Ellsworth Air Base. Such flights required refueling in the air and lasted much longer.
Basing the planes in the UK reduces flight time by more than half and increases the efficiency of strikes.
At the same time, the decision to use a British base was made after Prime Minister Keir Starmer changed his position and allowed U.S. planes to strike from the country's territory. London had previously refused to provide bases, but reconsidered the decision after an Iranian drone attack on a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus.
Possible involvement of stealth bombers
Besides the B-1 and B-52, Northrop's B-2 Spirit aircraft are also involved in the campaign. They are now flying long missions directly from the United States, from Whiteman Air Force Base, where each sortie can last more than 37 hours.
The B-2 is the only aircraft capable of carrying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator super-heavy bomb, designed to destroy deep underground fortifications.
Today, the U.S. Air Force has:
76 B-52H bombers, which remain the backbone of strategic aviation;
45 B-1B Lancer aircraft, which perform mostly conventional strike missions;
19 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
In the future, they are to be gradually replaced by the new Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber, of which the Pentagon plans to purchase about 100 units.