U.S. Withdraws All B-1B Strategic Bombers from RAF Fairford

The United States has withdrawn all B-1B strategic bombers deployed at the British RAF Fairford airfield.

The Pentagon and U.S. European Command (EUCOM) confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine the redeployment of the aircraft to their permanent bases in the United States.

On October 4, 12 B-1B Lancer bombers previously stationed in the United Kingdom left the air base throughout the day.

“We can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” the U.S. defense agency said in a statement to TWZ.

The Pentagon emphasized that the redeployment does not affect U.S. strategic bombers’ ability to conduct combat missions. B-1Bs, B-2s, and B-52s can carry out long-range combat missions directly from the continental United States.

Investigation into RAF Fairford

The redeployment took place amid a counterterrorism investigation surrounding the airfield.

On September 27, British law enforcement received reports of three suspicious vehicles traveling toward RAF Fairford. Police detained five men aged between 23 and 25 near Welford. Police later released all five detainees on bail with restrictions, but they remain subjects of the investigation.

Britain’s Counter Terrorism Policing said they are investigating several possible lines of inquiry, including the possibility that the detainees may have been acting on behalf of a foreign state.

On September 30, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were indications of Iranian involvement in an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack near RAF Fairford.

On October 1, police detained another man in London as part of the investigation. The British-Iranian national was suspected of preparing a terrorist attack. On October 3, he was released on bail, while the investigation remains ongoing.

However, as of now, British law enforcement has not publicly presented evidence conclusively establishing Iran’s involvement in the incident.

RAF Fairford and Operations Against Iran

RAF Fairford plays an important role in U.S. strategic bomber operations in the Middle East. At the beginning of hostilities with Iran, the British government officially allowed the United States to use RAF Fairford for designated operations against Iranian missile forces.

The UK government said that U.S. operations from British bases were aimed at destroying Iranian missiles that posed a threat to allies and shipping. The first U.S. bomber deployed as part of this mission arrived at RAF Fairford in March 2026.

On July 22, the U.S. Air Force used B-1B Lancer to strike Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities in Iran. The aircraft performed combat missions using the British RAF Fairford airfield.

On March 2, U.S. B-1Bs were used to strike ballistic missile production and storage facilities in Iran.

The scale of the U.S. deployment at RAF Fairford was so significant that organizers canceled the Royal International Air Tattoo 2026 air show in May.