In an audio clip recorded earlier today, Typhoon jets can be heard to welcome American B-52 aircraft to the United Kingdom whilst over the coast of western Scotland.

Four B-52s arrived today with two of the group splitting off and heading to northern Scotland. They were soon greeted by Typhoon fighter jets for a bit of a ‘photoshoot’ to collect imagery to mark the occasion before heading off to practise bombing the weapons range at Tain north of Inverness, some of those photos are displayed below.

The bombers, as said above, received a warm welcome to let’s listen in courtesy of open-source intelligence analyst @mm0ndx. If you don’t already follow this account I recommend you do so now.

The link below contains the audio of the event.

What’s happening?

B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, support equipment, and personnel from the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrived at RAF Fairford, England, today to execute a long-planned Bomber Task Force mission.

Bomber Task Force missions are regularly scheduled U.S. European Command and U.S. Strategic Command joint mission series.

According to a statement:

“En route to RAF Fairford, U.S. Bomber Aircraft integrated with British Typhoon aircraft and Portuguese F-16s currently assigned to NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing mission. Bomber aircraft also integrated with British Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) to conduct bilateral Close Air Support training.  The mission focused on enhancing readiness and interoperability for the controllers responsible for coordinating airstrikes to support ground forces.

Regularly integrating with our allies improves our cooperation and operational capacity, capability and interoperability. Occurring since 2018, bomber rotations through Europe maintain our readiness to execute a wide variety of missions across two continents, sustaining peace through deterrence.”

American bombers arrive in Britain

“With an ever-changing global security environment, it’s critical that our efforts with our allies and partners are unified,” said Gen Jeff Harrigian, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander.

“We’re in Europe training and collaborating together, because consistent integration is how we strengthen our collective airpower.”

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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66 COMMENTS

  1. Anyone know what weapon is on the centre pylon in the first image of the USAF tweet? If that’s the centre pylon? Can’t be sure

  3. I wonder when we can expect to see the Irish Airforce doing the same thing?
    It will be good to see them carrying out air to air combat operations for themselves

    Apologies in advance if I’ve spelt air incorrectly, I thought this was never going to be a consideration according to one person on UKDJ 😂

    Irish commission recommends fighter procurement10 FEBRUARY 2022

    “Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces has recommended that the country field a modern combat aircraft type as part of a wider raft of proposed military procurement suggestions.

    In its report published on 9 February, the commission said that the Irish Air Corps (IAC) should acquire for itself an air combat and intercept capability through “a squadron” of combat jets.”

    • It will be in at least 10 years time. Infrastructure, training, procurement etc. don’t happen overnight. That recommendation for fast jets was more of a longer term ambition. In the short to medium term it will be more helicopters, transport aircraft, cyber defence, more naval vessels and better pay and conditions.

        • Nope. Your figures are plucked from thin air. The fast jet recommendation is a longer term ambition. Just because an airfield is in Baldonnell doesn’t mean it can suddenly operate fast jets. There is a wealth of infrastructure and training that will need to be carried out. These things move slowly. Look at the regeneration of F35 carrier operations. It’s taken years and this is in a country with plenty of fast jet and naval aviation experience.

          • Go and read that report again. In full. Don’t cherrypick headlines. Even if every option in that defence commission report is implemented, the fast jet purchase will be the very last consideration. Yes, being realistic it will take 10 years. Maybe more. Ireland has zero experience of fast jet operations. Casement Aerodrome is small, there will need to be modern HAS, fuel and ammunition stores, advanced radar, groundcrew training, everything that is needed for fighter jet operation will have to be built from near scratch. Perhaps probably a runway extension as well. Why on earth would the Irish Air Corps be ‘gifted’ T1 Typhoon? I’m sure you can submit your thoughts to the Irish Department of Defence, but it will still be 10 years plus.

          • So, 10 years plus to implement “HAS, fuel and ammunition stores, advanced radar, groundcrew training, and a runway extension?

            “Just running assessments will take about one or two months before construction can begin. Then, depending on the length of the runway, you’d be looking in the ballpark of about one quarter to half the year based on construction experience as well as what material the runway will be AND weather.”

            https://www.iata.org/en/training/subject-areas/ground-operations-courses/

          • Yes. 10 years. Maybe more. That’s not including the procurement process, political infighting, tendering etc. Whether you like it or not, that’s the reality. Deal with it.

          • You have provided no facts, just opinions, suppositions, inaccuracies and figures from idle air.

          • Any facts to back up your claims yet? Didn’t think so!

            From scratch and 4years to train pilots. Deal with it.
            London City Airport Timeline

            • 1981 – Proposal for the construction of London City Airport is made on the basis of providing an airport for the London Docklands Area
            • 1985 – Planning permission granted for London City Airport by the Secretary of State for Transport
            • 1986 – Foundation stone for the terminal building laid by Prince Charles the Prince of Wales
            • 1987 – First aircraft lands at London City Airport and commercial services begin operating in October

            https://www.airparks.co.uk/london-city-airport/london-city-airport-history.html

            As posted by me further up this thread.

            https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/74389-press-release-budget-2022/

          • Like i say.You don’t cope well with people disagreeing with you. The fact you have compared the construction timeline of a small civilian airport from the 80s to setting up a front line military Typhoon fast jet base is not comparable. It took 2 years to upgrade RAF Coningsbys infrastructure to accept Typhoon from Tornado F3. An already well established fast jet station.

          • Completely irrelevant. That’s a civilian infrastructure project from many years ago in a different country. Stay off Google and stop posting irrelevant links. They are not the same as facts

            Refresh your memory. You began this thread with a comment about how long it would be until the Irish could meet B52’s and similar. You got your answer. 10 years plus. Watch and see if you think you know better.

            Also, you included an oblique snide remark about the spelling of air , no doubt referencing the spelling of Eire. Have a bit more respect for the language of other nations.

          • Clutching at straws now are we? Any facts yet to substantiate your claim of ten years? Thought not!

          • Grow up son. Posting irrelevant links from Google is not establishing fact. You need to learn the difference. You asked and you got your answer. If you don’t like it, contact the Irish department of defence. Or switch off your computer and live in the real world.

          • From what you posted it didn’t take a year. It took 6. Even that’s not comparable, that’s a civil engineering project. Military engineering is a in a greater order of complexity.

            Look Nigel, no offence but you clearly don’t understand the complexities of modern procurement, political realities, funding, training etc that will have to be managed should the Irish defence force decide to equip themselves with fast jets. Continually posting irrelevant Google links and photoshops and confusing them as facts makes you seem about twelve years old.

          • So not ten plus years then and that was an example of a completely new City Airport not modifying one to accept fast jets.

            The work will start later this summer and is expected to take around two years. It will involve the refurbishment of an existing hangar and construction of new technical and storage facilities.

            It forms part of a wider redevelopment of RAF Lossiemouth which also includes a refurbished runway, facilities for the RAF’s fleet of Poseidon MRA Mk. 1 sub-hunters, new and improved accommodation, and much more.

            https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20-million-contract-awarded-for-typhoon-infrastructure-at-raf-lossiemouth

            And yes I do understand the complexities of modern procurement, political realities, funding and training, but sadly you clearly do not.

            Still no facts I see to back up your claims? And you are clearly not going to find them on Google are you!

            Come back to me when you can and be prepared to engage in an adult fashion or at the very least do your homework first.

            Posting “Continually posting irrelevant Google links and photoshops and confusing them as facts makes you seem about twelve years old” shows you have nothing tangible to offer in reply other than your own misguided opinion.

             

          • You have not demonstrated or shown a single fact yourself that can demonstrate how a modern 4/5 generation fighter jet with all the attendant infrastructure, training, and support etc can be purchased and operated by a country’s Air force that has never operated fast jets before and in such a compressed time frame. That’s my opinion based on experience and knowledge, not some irrelevant link to civilian Air traffic control or a civil engineering project from the last century. I don’t need or have to justify or provide proof to anyone.
            You really don’t know what you are talking about and I honesty can’t see why you are so upset that fast jet operation in Ireland won’t be happening anytime soon. If you think otherwise, fine, I’m not upset about it, but the hard facts over the unfolding years will prove your assertions wrong. Apart from copy and paste, you don’t understand very much at all.

          • Lossiemouth was already a fast jet station. The Irish don’t have, and never have had a fast jet station or ever operated fast jet’s. To go from the Irish government deciding they want to operate military fast jets and suddenly find the huge amount of cash to do so, and convince the Irish tax paying public it’s a good way to spend their hard earned cash before loosing the next election, is going to take a lot longer than 2 years. a lot longer. They haven’t got the cash or experience to operate a couple of T1 Hawks, let alone jump to somthing as complex as Typhoon. look how long it takes highly experienced Air Force’s to bring a new aircraft type into service, with everything already in place. All the facts you desire are in the Irish Defence Commission document. Read it, then you might finally get a grip of how far away they are. Because so far, it’s nothing more than words in a document. And Irish politics are notoriously backwards. They will be lucky to have a Tucano in service before 2035. 👍Enjoy.

          • Think that was helicopters only. know idea what state it’s in today. Think the RAF moved out a good few years ago.

          • I just had a look. It’s still a British Army unit with an RAF reserve unit. The big one, though, is that It’s in Northern Ireland, so nothing really to do with the government of the Irish Republic.

          • Just a thought. It might be a quick start solution and facilitate shared costs if the politics work. The location in NI might work for both countries.

          • Maybe you should read my post again Nigel. 2 years to upgrade an already long established fast jet station to accept Typhoon infrastructure from Tornado F3. Very big difference from what you are pointlessly arguing about starting from scratch with a small aerodrome in Eire.

          • A link for a civilian airport operations course?? Really Nigel, give Google a rest lad. I know you don’t cope well with people disagreeing with you, but that’s clutching at straws.

        • It takes at least 5 years to get a baby RAF pilot from officer training at Cranwell to joining a OCU, and that’s with all the current long in use infrastructure at Cranwell, Valley, Shawbury (Helicopters) plus engineering training at Cosford. Your assumption is way off.

    • Very interesting Jay R, do you have a link to the amount of Tempest Aircraft that will be produced? or the confirmed order of 138 F-35s?

    • JAy wrote:

      In 2030, I wonder if the Scotish Air Force with their 2 Jet Provost’s will contribute to protecting Irish Air Space.

      Ive always subscribed to the notion that if Scotland leaves the Union and are unable to join the EU due to their debt. (which funny enough the sex pest who looks like a frog claimed they didnt need to pay back) I can see wee jimmy hiring out Faslane to Moscow simply because she can.

      • Not likely. Since when has Scotland had a close relationship with Russia? Absolutely insane idea.
        Scotland’s parliament has always tried to have its closest relationship with its closest neighbour. The rest of the U.K. that’s why you always here stories of items the both parliaments are unhappy with each other about. Because they care and know how important each other are

      • The EU always ignores legal and financial limits when it comes to enmeshing nations further into its deadly embrace. That’s why so many nations who failed the economic convergence test were still allowed to joint the Euro, which ultimately caused the European sovereign debt crisis.

        • Exactly Nigel.The quickest, easiest,most sensible way for the ROI to acquire fast jets is to institute a co-operation agreement with the UK whereby a small number of T1’s in Irish livery are jointly operated on a financial contribution basis. Irishmen serve in, amongst other units, the Irish Guards so what would be the problem with a solution that can be implemented almost immediately?

          • I’m sure old Joe would be more than happy to help out as well.

            If the US and UK supplied the aircraft, weapons fit and training the cost would be manageable.

            Casement Aerodrome looks to be well-positioned too.

            “Casement Aerodrome or Baldonnel Aerodrome is a military airbase to the southwest of Dublin, Ireland situated off the N7 main road route to the south and south west.”

            https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/roles/roles-finder/aircrew/pilot

          • Trouble might be runways are less than half the length of CON or LOS? which is fine for c-295’s but not fast jets with extra fuel tanks

      • Why would they need to lease something they already own!. Unlike MoD, they may also value maritime strike capability 18 tranche 2 Typhoons and leave the F35s behind would suit their needs May have to contribute to the lease deal for A2A refuelling to support QRA.

        • Since when does the Irish Gov own Typhoons? So as i said we could lend/lease to them 🙂 their C-295 can be refitted to MPA/Persuader which has ability to do ASW & ASuW for the limited requirement that they would want/need. with T1’s providing top cover. The c-295 has loads of different variants which would reduce costs as only 2 fixed wing a/c types

          • The root of the thread was the concept of Scotland only affording protests and offering to support Ireland with those provests. Well aware Ireland doest own Typhoons..

    • Crikey same rubbish joke on 2 articles. If there was Scottish independence they are more than capable of having an airforce to do what’s required.
      Look at other Western European countries of similar size and gdp to Scotland. They manage quite fine. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, portugal etc etc
      If anything having a fresh start without all the British forces legacy costs and inefficiencies would produce a better force for an equivalent budget.
      Just my view point of course and no Im not pro independence.

      • A similar size and GDP? The nations you meantioned all have at least double the GDP of Scotland based on 2019 numbers.

        The closed by 2019 GDP would be Hungary so a fleet of 14 Gripens (the same number as Hungary) would be viable.

        • 14 gripens I slightly better than the 2 jet provost aircraft mentioned by others as a piss take. It only serves to reinforce the view that Scotland is somehow 2nd best in the uk and should be grateful to have such wise London masters. That view doesnt help anyone. My main point was that if jets were required to stop a foreign military aircraft jets would be acquired.

    • I must remember to scroll down through all messages before commenting…..
      In other news looks like alot more assests are being moved. F15s have been pushed up from Lakenheath to Poland to bolster air defense.

      • It’s not looking good at the moment that’s for sure.

        And Russia doesn’t want NATO forces close to its borders whilst creating it in the first place by threatening to invade Ukraine?

        What does Putin honestly think is going to happen if he does?

        US President Joe Biden has called on all American citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action.

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60342814

    • Like the Scottish Nationalists, these proponents of an Irish Air Force are seemingly oblivious of all that would be required. The figures mentioned are ludicrously lower than are credible. Aircraft are simply the media cum public visible costs. Infrastructure – airfields, 4C, personnel and training costs? This expenditure to achieve what precisely? Something the Irish presently get free of charge. If taking charity from the hated British offends Irish amour propre, a request to any other air force capable of providing air security would present the Dail with a hefty bill.

      • I think I’ve answered most of the points that you’ve raised above.

        It would be in our interests as well to have them stationed on the western approaches for QRA’s. We will be losing the T1s anyway, why not make good use of them?

        We seem to be undertaking joint projects at the moment, this would be another one.

        “The UK and Ireland will not bid to stage the 2030 World Cup and will focus on a bid for Euro 2028 instead. The third largest sports event in the world.”

    • Not to be a downer but I cannot see that happening.

      The earliest date that the Tempest has been touted at entering service was 2035 – given the time-honoured tradition of lateness it’s more like 2040. We also don’t know how many we’ll get.

      We’ll be lucky to get 80-90 F35s, rather than 138.

      I would love to see the Typhoons continuously upgraded and kept into service like the USAF are doing with the F15s, though. I think that would be a very good idea, but I cannot see the budget allowing for it plus F35 and Tempest. Not without a significant boost in defence spending.

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