A Typhoon fighter aircraft escorted United States Air Force B-1 Bombers on their transatlantic transit to RAF Fairford as part of the latest Bomber Task Force mission.

In a news release, the RAF say that the Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby escorted the two B-1 Bombers as they approached UK airspace on the West Coast.

“The Bombers approached UK airspace as part of their pre-planned transatlantic flight to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.  As well as escorting the United States Air Force Bombers inside the UK’s area of interest, flying with other NATO aircraft provided a key training opportunity for the Typhoon.Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate U.S commitment to the collective defence of NATO and contribute to stability in the European theatre.  Strategic Bomber missions enhance the readiness necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. 

The planning and delivery of RAF support to Bomber Task Force enhances bilateral understanding of support to joint operations and multi-domain integration where opportunities for Maritime or Land support exists as part of the Bomber Task Force series of activity.  The Bomber Task Force therefore presents the UK with an excellent opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relationship.”

Group Captain Peterson was quoted as saying:

“This Bomber Task Force mission further demonstrates the UK’s unwavering commitment to NATO and highlights the close relationship we enjoy with our U.S allies.”

Gen Harrigian, United States Air Force Europe Commander, was also quoted:

“Bomber Task Force missions amplify our coalition reach and project our collective power within the European and African theatres.  By training and integrating with our allies and partners, we are expanding our ability to adapt to challenges and counter adversaries in the global security environment.”

 

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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79 COMMENTS

  1. All good messaging for our potential enemies and rivals to hear. B1B is still a great platform, and capable of supporting NATO members at short notice.

    • Scary things too, especially a whole formation of them. I had that privilege during the Serbian/Kosovo conflict when they departed from what I assume was Fairford. Probably 12 or so going overhead at once, magnificent sight, albeit sobering when you think what they were going to do.

      The RAF were also very active round there at the time. Six Tornados flew over our footie game at low level – we all instinctively hit the deck!

      • I also used them a little in Afghanistan when some turned up to support CAS sorties. Really loud when down low for a SOF, and an almost inexhaustible bomb load for that environment.

      • The last time frame I saw reported was 2031-2033 but I wouldn’t be surprised if that is extended as it’s very possible that some developmental delays creep into the B-21 being operational timeline.

        • Multiple sources say 2036 but I’d imagine there will be few left by then, if any. With 45 in service once they start cutting them in 2025 it will soon become uneconomic and low hanging fruit to cut early.

    • US is very unimaginative at naming things, the M3 Medium Tank, M3 Light Tank, M3 SPG, M3 Tank Destroyer, M3 half-track, M3 Scout Car… Pistols, Rifles, HMG, Grenade Launchers all use the M numbering as well and im sure there’s more…

      • You know the B-1 is the Lancer (but known to the crews and maintainers as the Bone) and the B-21 is the Raider (probably to be known as the Chuck Norris…just kidding;)

    • The B-21 is officially called “Raider” in honor of Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle’s April 1942 B-25 raid on Japan off of the deck of the USS Hornet

    • In theory, each B-1B can carry at least 24 LRASM. Imagine what a formation of these could to do an adversary’s surface fleet. Scary as hell.

      • To be fair, what is the point of large combat ships when much cheaper and numerous aircraft can actually carry more missiles?

        • Presence. Aircraft can’t provide the utility or dominate an area for weeks or months at a time the way ships can.

          • Those aircraft can RTB and return again with a full load of munitions and go for round two within hours. The warships will have to RTB which could be days/weeks away to restock.

          • How long do you think airplanes can keep that up for? Often times bombers like the B1 are flying from the continental US. But let’s say they are flying from in theater, keeping up a sortie rate that high and the logistics chain necessary to support something like that is enormous. Put a well equipped DDG in the area and you have the potential to influence the air, surface and subsurface.

          • Yeah but 2 B1s each with 24 LRASMs and that DDG is gone, likely without all of the missiles even being launched.

          • I think you’re simplifying this beyond reality. B1s or any similar aircraft don’t just fly to launch missiles. They need to be refueled, so we’re talking tanker support. They need fighter escorts, which means bunch or aircraft supporting them. They need to be able to find and track a target, which might be the most difficult. What happens when the opposing airforce doctrine focuses on killing tanker support so your bomber and it’s escort can’t reach close enough to fire those missiles?

          • You don’t have to keep it up for long if you’re fighting against a warship with 48 missiles, Two sorties worth of B1s and you’ve sunk that warship with ease.

          • And how often would you find a single warship alone in a war scenario?

            In a peer-war, us or the US Navy would be operating carrier groups. Destroyers will detect them from several hundred miles away and F35s or Super Hornets scrambled to intercept them before theu get in LRASM range. Hornets or F35s armed with AMRAAMs or Meteors will shoot down those bombers with ease before they are close to firing range.

          • Not true. Range of LRASM is around 174nm, range of AN/SPY-1 is around 167nm, and range of the SAMPSON is around 216nm. So in the case of facing an American CSG, the Lancers would be able to release their missiles and turn around. While the Lancer(s) would, still, likely be lost, it would easily be within range to fire LRASM before the CSG was able to react, launch planes, get those planes within AMRAAM/Meteor range (30nm and 110nm respectively, but with a almost certain kill chance within 30nm for the Meteor). It would be very very difficult, for 2 Arleigh Burkes to stop 48 LRASM. A British CSG might fait a bit better, due to SAMPSON’s longer range and therefore earlier warning, and the Lancers would definitely be shot down, but nevertheless 4 B-1s instead of just the 2, with their 90 or so LRASMs, would destroy a UKCSG.

  13. Warts and occasional bumps apart, the USA are great allies and a reassuring presence in Britain. Are there still many USAF bases in the UK? When I was a nipper there was one near Ruislip where a school pal lived and my uncle who was with the American Red Cross, was based with the US Air Force in Kings Lynn Norfolk. They had a cottage in the beautiful village of Wells and had a kitchen stuffed with Yankee treats-fresh orange juice, toasted cheese sandwiches and bubble gum!! First taste of all three for me! Circa 1956 and there was still a big Yankee presence lingering in the UK from WW2.
    ( did I tell you that story Daniele?) 😂

    • Morning geoff. 😊

      Lakenheath.
      Mildenhall.
      Croughton.
      Feltwell.
      Menwith Hill.
      Blenheim Crescent. ( Near Ruislip )
      Alconbury.
      Barford St John.
      Daws Hill. ( Possibly now closed )
      Fairford.
      Molesworth.
      Fairford.
      Welford.

      US personnel are also present in numbers at

      Bude.
      Digby
      Wyton

      and others…

      No! You have not told me that one. Misty here, drizzle and miserable.

      • Just to add to that list D man you forgot probably one of the most important US bases of the Cold War era here in U.K. RAF Edzell in bonnie Scotland👍🏻 . I used to love going to the village as a wee lad looking for the golf balls on the drive down (the coms structures not the titlelist pro 1’s found in Tiger woods bag) 😄

        it was shrouded in rumour and mystery thousands of US personnel worked there ,integrated with the locals very well. Sorry they had to go.
        Apparently it’s location was premier 101 due to the topography that meant it hoovered up communications splendidly.

        anyways I wax lyrical

        🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

        • Hello Artist. My Friend in Jordanstown-his dad was in the RAF stationed on Tiree in the 1950’s. Daniele knew of this base-in fact I think went there or nearby-Daniele?

          • Howdy amigo Tiree you say? Every days a school day man , I wasn’t aware there was a base there. 👍🏻

            🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

          • My info is like 65 years old Daniele. I just remembered my young pal saying his dad was in the RAF based on Tiree and for some reason the name stuck in my mind😄

          • Ok, having looked at what “”Tiree ” is…! Qinetiqs radar and missile range is on the Hebridees. Assume that’s the place you reference?

        • No mate. I didn’t forget. It’s not current and closed so I didn’t list it as geoff asked about current sites 😉

          It had an “Elephant cage ” array along with the one at Chicksands / Bldg 602.

          Chicksands is now the JITG and some other stuff and I think Edzells an industrial park???

          Balado Bridge and Thurso were another Scots sites of interest.

          Have you seen the “Secret Scotland ” website mate?

          • Ha ha yeah my mistake 🤨 current ! Too fast on the trigger I woz

            aye Edzell is an industrial site or something who knows what secrets have been closed off underground there.

            I’ve been to the secret bunker many years ago at that time it was still partially operational I think. I’m not sure to what extent the tour showed off everything but it was quite something not like you see on tv The blast doors were incredible 😳

            👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

        • Fascinating, I didn’t know about that base, thanks. Shame there’s only one air base left in the whole of scotland now…

      • Hi Daniele! Wow-surely more US bases than those dedicated RAF only airfields in Britain!! Sorry to hear of your bad weather although I hear you are due an Indian Summer in the next few days? 22 degrees and windy here. In Northern Ireland in my youth the RAF operated out of Nutts Corner, a civil airport and had an admin only(no airfield) facility in Jordanstown next to where I lived. Don’t think they have any presence in NI now.
        Cheers my friend

        • So I hear…and the mists gone and glorious blue skies here now.

          The RAF presence has ended AFAIK, Aldergrove is now a JHC station.

          I’ve not heard of Nutts Corner.

          On the US sites, to be fair only 2 are active airbases, 3 are minor support sites, 2 are comms, 1 is space tracking, 1 a bomb store, 1 a stand by airbase for bombers, 1 is varied intell and Sigint, and 1, Molesworth, an intelligence fusion centre and some support functions, but they hold onto it for what is underneath it in my opinion.

          Regards my friend.

        • Course not. We have around 20 in the UK alone. They were going to close Mildenhall themselves until recently.

          • You are correct mate on closing sites, I don’t like losing them either. Scotland should still have the 3, with the P8s and RCs at Kinloss and 2 Typhoon at Leuchars. At least the runways are still active. I’d also split the Coningsby wing with Leeming.

            All costs money and needs personnel to man.

          • Hi Reaper. All your comments are of course valid. But there is also the impact on local economies when bases close. Primarily, the administrative civilian jobs are gone. There is also a very real effect on local retail – a bad result for all.

      • Isn’t Alconbury a housing estate now? My cousin bought one (oh the shame) so thought there was nothing of the airfield left.

        • I believe the S East part of the site, the admin area, is still USAF. Yes the airfield itself long gone. The Magic Mountain bunker is preserved by NH, just in case!

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