We’re writing with important updates about activities at Fairford, as well as a reminder about our day conference next week!

B-52 bombers return to Fairford

B52 bomber landing at Fairford on 11 February

US Air Force B-52 bombers arrived at the Fairford air base this week as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment to exercise with other NATO air forces in Europe.

Two of the aircraft flew from Minot air force base in North Dakota (callsigns SLIDE 11 and SLIDE 12), refuelling over Canada and arriving at Fairford at dusk on Tuesday 11 February. 

Two more aircraft had left Minot at the time of writing, refuelling in the air for a trip over the Atlantic, and are expected to arrive today (Thursday 13 February). 

The B-52s were preceded by an Atlas Air Boeing 767 which arrived at Fairford on Saturday 8 February, and two Kalitta Air Boeing 747s which arrived on Saturday 8 and Monday 10 February.

These aircraft, chartered by the US Air Force, brought equipment and personnel needed to support the B52 deployment. They have now left Fairford.

US military personnel unload support equipment from a Kalitta Air Boeing 747 / US military personnel at Welford preparing bombs for transport to Fairford. Credit: US Air Force

Bombs were transported from RAF Welford, the US munitions store close to the M4 motorway near Hungerford which supports Fairford, before the aircraft arrived on Thursday 6 February, suggesting that live fire exercises will be taking place. During the last B-52 deployment at Fairford in November – December 2024, aircraft dropped live munitions during an exercise in Norway and simulated dropping bombs on Finland, practising for an attack on Russia’s northern flank. As well as rehearsing with air forces from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Lithuania the B52s also worked alongside aircraft from the UK, Czech republic, and Morocco.

Bomber Task Force deployments allow the US Air Force to practice for all aspects of a war in Europe or the Middle East, from deployment of aircraft at Fairford and familiarisation with the base, to exercising with other NATO air forces and rehearsing attacks on wartime targets.

The US Air Force described the deployment as “a demonstration of cooperation, collaboration, integration, and solidarity to promote peace and security”.

Stop Tech Wars: Drone Wars UK online day conference, Saturday 22 February 2025

Drone Wars UK is organising a free one-day online conference to inform campaigners about new technological developments in warfare and help build future campaiging. The conference will look at the latest developments in drone warfare, military AI, and the militarisation of space, with ideas

from campaigners, researchers, and academics to help in understanding and resisting warfare of the future.

The conference is being organised in collaboration with Leicester CND in memory of peace activist Penny Walker.

Speakers include:

Dr Elke Schwarz (Queen Mary University).

Roy Jones (PARC Against DARC).

Dr Jill Stuart (London School of Economics and Political Science).

Elizabeth Minor (Article 36).

Chris Cole (Drone Wars UK).

Dr Helen Dexter (University of Leicester).

Full details are available here.

You can book a place at the conference here (free – donation optional).

RIAT Update

This year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) will take place at Fairford over the weekend of 18-20 July 2025. 

The organisers promise an ‘unparalleled sensory experience’ with the theme of ‘Eyes In the Sky’. 

Aircraft flying and on display at the event will include spy planes and drones

involved in surveillance and reconnaissance, signals intelligence, and maritime patrols.

The tattoo is sponsored by arms manufacturer BAE Systems and as usual the event will, behind the scenes, serve as a fair for the sale and trade in weapons as well as a military air display for the public.

For those of you new to Drone Wars’ work, be sure to visit our website for information, resources, and blog coverage of the developments unfolding in drone warfare and other military technologies. You may be particularly interested in the background behind Global Hawk drones at Fairford, and evidence of Global Hawk surveillance flights over Occupied Palestine in recent months. 

In solidarity, 

The Drone Wars UK Team