Latest news from Drone Wars

1.   Protest at MoD Corsham space warfare centre for 

Keep Space for Peace Week

Sunday 12 October, Noon-1.30pm*

MoD Corsham  (Between Bath and Swindon)

Each autumn, events take place around the globe to highlight and challenge the increasing militarisation of space.  Here in the UK, protests will take place at military sites connected with space warfare, while other events aimed at raising awareness will also take place in town and city centres.

The UK is strongly supporting US military expansion into space – including President Trump’s new multi-billion dollar ‘Golden Dome’ programme –  with several US bases herein the UK directly involved in the space warfare programme.  Alongside this, one of three huge space radars the US Space Force are planning to develop is set to be built in south Wales though strongly opposed by local campaigners. As well as supporting US military space programmes, the UK military too is expanding into space with military satellites being launched and spaceports being developed in Scotland.

On Sunday 12th October we shall hold a protest outside the main gate of MoD Corsham, a major of the key sites connected with the UK’s space warfare plans. MOD Corsham is home to the MoD’s Global Operations Security Control Centre (GOSCC), the Joint Security Co-ordination Centre(JSyCC), and Defence Digital. Skynet, a family of military communications satellites that provides strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies, is managed  from Corsham with Ground Control facilities adjacent. 

MoD Corsham, Westwells Rd, Corsham SN13 9GB 

See map below for exact locations.  

• Note the protest was to have been on Saturday 11th but has been moved 

to Sunday 12th to avoid clashing with London Palestine march. 

Launch of one of UK’s military Skynet 5 satellites   

2.   B-52 bombers return to Fairford for NATO exercise

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers from the US Air Force are currently visiting Fairford air base for the second time this year.   

On Friday 12 September two B-52H bombers assigned to the307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Base, Louisiana (61-0014, callsign SCALP93 and61-0029, callsign SCALP94) arrived at Fairford.

One of the aircraft – 61-0029 – is in the US Air Force’s nuclear-capable fleet and is capable of carrying nuclear-armed AGM-86Bair-launched cruise missiles.

USAF personnel undertake maintenance on B52 at RAF Fairford

The bombers were due to participate in Cobra Warrior 2025 (CW 25-2), a twice-yearly NATO air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Air Force. This year the exercise will involve aircraft from four nations – Canada, Germany, Italy, and the US – as well as the UK. Training will take place at a number of locations around the UK, and will test interoperability among the participating NATO air forces, as well as providing an opportunity to practice war-fighting tactics and techniques.

At the time of writing the aircraft had flown from Fairford on Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 September to take part in exercises.

3.  Fairford in the spotlight as Trump and Vance visit UK

Fairford air base played key role in recent visits of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to the UK.  

Equipment supporting Trump’s state visit in September was transported to Fairford, with a US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster heavy-lift transport aircraft arriving just before midnight on Monday 15 September to deliver security equipment and vehicles.

JD Vance addresses US troops at RAF Fairford 

A Boeing C-32A passenger aircraft from the ‘Special Air Mission’ operated by the US Air Force’s 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, was also based at Fairford during Trump’s visit. The aircraft (serial number 09-0017) is decorated in distinctive blue and white ‘United States of America’ livery and is allocated to the Presidential Mission for transporting Trump and members of his family.

It is thought that the C-32A was stationed at Fairford to act as a reserve aircraft in the case of a malfunction with Air Force One, or as an ‘escape jet’ should it be necessary to evacuate the President quickly in an emergency. At the time of writing the aircraft remains at Fairford.

In August Vice President JD Vance stayed near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds on a holiday visit. Equipment and vehicles for Vance’s visit were also transported to Fairford. Three C-17As arrived on 8 August to drop off vehicles for Vance’s motorcade, including two armoured SUVs for use by Vance, US secret service vehicles, and emergency vehicles and equipment assigned to the secret service’s Hazardous Agent Mitigation Medical Emergency Response (HAMMER) team. Three more C-17As flew to Fairford to pick up the vehicles on 13 August following Vance’s departure.

Before departing from Fairford Vance took part in a ‘troop engagement’ visitwith personnel based at Fairford and their families. Vance was reportedly greeted with a standing ovation as he addressed troops at Fairford, speaking in front of one of the U2 spy planes which are based at Fairford and continue to fly regular missions from the base.  

Vance departed from the UK straight after his visit to Fairford, leaving in one of two Special Air Mission C-32As (98-0001 and 98-0002) which flew from Fairford later that evening

Vance’s visit caused considerable disruption and inconvenience for local residents, with road closures, traffic disruption from motorcades, identity checks and intrusive requests for personal information for the US secret service. Unsurprisingly, a number of residents put up signs outside their homes objecting to the visit and the Vice President’s political views.

4. Stroud Peace Fair:  17-18 October

Drone Wars will be participating in Stroud’s inaugural Peace Fair where we will have a stall and run a workshop looking at the increasing use of drones as well as the US deployments from RAF Fairford. 

The fair aims to bring people together and to showcase organisations working to reduce tensions, build justice, and conflicts peacefully.  Do join if you can.  For more details and to book a place at one of the workshops see    www.trybooking.com/uk/FCJE

In solidarity

Drone Wars UK