USAF B52s take off from USAF (RAF) Fairford in new show of US power after mission near Russian border

Posted: 27th February 2025

27th February 2025

USAF B52s take off from USAF (RAF) Fairford in new show of US power after mission near Russian border

There are reports that huge B52H Stratofortress have taken off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire this morning (Thursday, February 27). It is the latest mission out of the Cotswolds base which has a deployment of four of the United States Air Force bombers currently stationed there.

It is understood that two of the aircraft took off before dawn, one with the callsign PLOW41. Radar maps suggest they flew north before banking north-east and then heading east over the Netherlands and the over Poland.

The latest Bomber Task Force mission comes just days after a B52H flew within 50 miles of the border with Russia to join celebrations for Estonia’s Independence Day (Monday, February 24). Estonia is seen as one of NATO nations most at risk from an future aggression from Putin.

The four B52s had arrived at RAF Fairford from Minot Air Base in North Dakota earlier this month and have already conducted a number of missions over Europe and to the Middle East. These missions are planned in advance and serve to act as a deterrent to potential enemies and to support allies.

Why are the B52s here?

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said: “Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate U.S. power projection capability, commitment to regional security, and ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the CENTCOM region.”

It is the first deployment to the UK under the second presidency of Donald Trump and is described as a signal of the United States’ shared commitment to regional security and NATO’s collective defence. The aim is to showcase American military might, to show support to NATO and to deter aggression.