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B-52H Bombers Join B-1Bs Deployed to RAF Fairford

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Three B-52H Stratofortress bombers deployed to RAF Fairford, joining B-1B Lancers deployed in the previous days and bringing to 11 the number of bombers now in Europe.

After two flights of B-1B Lancer bombers, now also a flight of B-52H Stratofortress bombers arrived in Europe for a deployment to RAF Fairford as part of Operation Epic Fury. Three B-52Hs, part of the HOOKY21 flight, arrived at RAF Fairford in the UK on Mar. 9, 2026.

The bombers are assigned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, which previously saw the launch of round-trip missions to Iran with B-52s loaded with AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM). The deployment of these bombers was already expected as spotters noticed in the previous days that transport aircraft flew from Minot to Fairford.

The three B-52s now join the eight B-1B Lancer bombers which arrived in Europe in the previous days. Five of them are currently at RAF Fairford, while three diverted to Ramstein, Germany, after low visibility prevented them from landing at Fairford after a first mission over Iran.

It is unclear if more B-52s will arrive in the UK at a later date, although this is likely. Most bomber missions over Iran have been operating either as a three-ship or four-ship flights, so additional B-52s arriving at Fairford would provide a number of spares to be used in case of technical issues.

The B-52s have been the last bombers to join the lineup of Operation Epic Fury, after initial missions only saw the involvement of B-1Bs and B-2A Spirit bombers. Images and videos released by the U.S. Air Force show that the Stratofortresses are flying stand-off attack missions with heavy loads of JASSMs.

The photos show the bombers carrying 12 AGM-158 JASSM missiles on the external pylons, although it is unclear if more are being carried internally. In fact, the B-52 can carry eight more JASSMs internally by using the Common Strategic Rotary Launcher, increasing the total payload to 20 missiles.

This is just shy of the B-1B’s payload, which can include up to 24 JASSMs internally. The BONEs (from B-One – as the B-1s are dubbed by their aircrews) are reportedly being similarly employed to launch JASSMs, as well as 2,000 lb GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM).

B-1Bs’ arrival

The first four B-1B Lancer bombers arrived in the UK between the evening of Mar. 6, 2026, and the morning of Mar. 7. These were followed by four additional B-1Bs which arrived a night later.

Both flights followed a similar route, with a four-ship bomber flight crossing the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe. However, once over the Mediterranean Sea, one bomber, acting as the spare, headed towards RAF Fairford, while the remaining three headed towards Iran for an attack mission.

B-1Bs at RAF Fairford
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer prepares to taxi prior to takeoff in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 6, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Once the mission was completed, the three bombers headed back to Fairford, at least for the first day. In fact, the next mission saw the three bombers diverting to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, after having to abort the landing at Fairford because of low visibility.

At the time of writing, these three bombers are still in Germany, while the remaining five are all at Fairford. Interestingly, according to radio communications with Air Traffic Control (ATC), one of the bombers landed at Ramstein reported they had hung ordnance which did not separate from the aircraft when the release command was activated by the crew.

The deployment of the BONEs to Europe arrived few days after the UK allowed the U.S. to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for the deployment of U.S. Air Force bombers currently involved in operations over Iran. In the same timeframe, statements from U.S. officials, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, say the Pentagon is looking to have “firepower over Iran surge dramatically,” in an effort to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities.

The U.S. Central Command previously mentioned that bombers are being employed to hit Iranian ballistic missile sites and command & control centers. It has been reported that the B-1s might be using 2,000 lb guided bombs, possibly GBU-31(V)3/B JDAM based on the 2,000 lb BLU-109/B bunker buster, and AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM).

Airmen prepare to launch a B-52H Stratofortress in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 4, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The B-1B Lancer is the U.S. bomber with the largest payload, carrying 75,000 lb (34,000 kg) in its three internal weapons bays. This payload could include up to 84 500-pound weapons such as the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), up to 24 2,000-pound weapons such as the GBU-31JDAM, or up to 24 AGM-158 JASSMs.

With the use of external pylons, 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) of additional weapons can be carried, for a total of 125,000 lb (57,000) kg. The Air Force is currently working on the integration of new pylons to further expand the payload, the new Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) pylons.


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